Lancers all set for PCCL show
Four months after galvanizing their dominance in the
Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), the
University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers embark on a new, much tougher
challenge as they compete in the 2017 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) National
Collegiate Championship slated on February 8-15 in
Manila.
The Lancers face an uphill battle as they go up against top caliber teams led by UAAP giants Ateneo Blue Eagles and La Salle Green Archers in the weeklong tilt that will determine the best collegiate ballclub in the country.
But the Lancers, already used to that kind of situation, are primed and ready to rise above the challenge.
"We are all prepared for this tournament. Being the only team from the Visayas, we will do our very best to compete all of the teams," said Gary Cortes, who piloted the Lancers to a three straight finals appearance in the CESAFI spotlighted by back-to-back titles within his three years as UV head coach.
The Lancers are one of the only three provincial teams that made it to the Elite Eight of the prestigious PCCL cage wars. The others are the Holy Trinity College (HTC) Wildcats of General Santos City and the Naga College Foundation (NCF) Tigers from Bicol region.
The Lancers and the Tigers are in Group A alongside reigning UAAP titleholder Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates.
Group B, on the other hand, is composed of the Green Archers, Wildcats, San Beda Red Lions and San Sebastian Stags.
They will play in a single round robin format, with the top two teams of each group advancing into the crossover semifinals. The winners will then clash for the championship on February 15 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, Metro Manila.
UV, which will parade the same lineup that ruled the CESAFI for the past two years, will open its campaign on February 9 against LPU, then takes on Ateneo and NCF in the succeeding days.
The Lancers' best showing in the PCCL was a second-place finish in 2007 when they were still under the tutelage of Elmer 'Boy' Cabahug. They got crushed by Ateneo in the finals, 71-54.