Eagles, Stags eye Final Four vs old foes

MANILA, Philippines - Back-to-back UAAP champion Ateneo and NCAA titlist San Sebastian go up against old rivals University of Santo Tomas and Letran, respectively, today, disputing the last two slots in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Final Four at the Ynares Arena in Pasig.

The Blue Eagles and the Growling Tigers clash at 2 p.m. in a rematch of their semifinal duel in the recent UAAP tourney. Ateneo booted out UST before topping University of the East in the finale for a second straight UAAP title conquest.

The Stags and the Knights, two teams with numerous epic battles in the NCAA, square off at 4 p.m. in the last quarterfinal match in this event staking P.5 million to the champion.

Far Eastern U and San Beda were the first teams to make the semifinals in the tourney sponsored by PLDT, Smart, ABS-CBN, Pagcor, The Philippine STAR and Molten.

FEU plays the winner of the SSC-Letran tiff while San Beda clashes with the victor in the Ateneo-UST setto.

The Eagles are the top picks in this event with a formidable lineup that dominated the UAAP in the last two years.

Coach Norman Black and his troops easily eased out the Lyceum Pirates, 73-63, in the Sweet 16 phase despite playing minus ace center Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

Nico Salva, Jai Reyes and Ryan Buenafe put in double-figure outputs, leading the Ateneo charge against the ISAA (Inter Scholastic Athletic Association) champs.

The Stags, meanwhile, barely made the Elite Eight on a 76-68 overtime win over the University of San Carlos Warriors.

Nonetheless, Letran coach Louie Alas considers the Stags the logical choice versus his Knights.

“They’re not the NCAA champion for nothing,” said Alas.

The Knights banked on the hot hands of JP Belencion as they stunned reigning Champs League champions La Salle Archers, 83-72, on March 25.

Belencion torched the Archers with 10 triples and a total of 36 points – the most by any player in the tourney.