Ateneo to Face a Familiar Foe in the PCCL Final 4

The last time the University of Visayas Green Lancers faced the Ateneo Blue Eagles, it was during the championship game of the Philippine Collegiate Champions' League (PCCL) last year where the Blue Eagles didn't even have a complete line-up and yet, still won the game, 95-71. Of course, that Green Lancers side still had Rey Suerte who had 26 points while the blue and white side still had Isaac Go, Thirdy Ravena, and, the Nieto twins of Mike and Matt.

This time around, the reigning University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions will be bannered by SJ Belangel, Dwight Ramos, Gian Mamuyac, and of course, Angelo Kouame as they will take on the Green Lancers in the one-and-done knockout Final Four of the PCCL which will be played on Saturday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. This is after the Green Lancers, beat the reigning Cebu Schools Athletiics Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) champions, the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras, 76-67, to win the PCCL Visayas-Mindanao Regional Championship and complete the Final Four cast of the PCCL. 

While beating the Cobras served as a redemption for the Green Lancers who lost to the former in the championship round of CESAFI last season, it was far from being their goal as pointed out by UV forward, Jancork Cabahug. 

Cabahug also mentioned that the Green Lancers of Coach Gary Cortes have exerted time and effort to prepare for the PCCL- particularly in facing the big guns of the league. He also added that the reigning runner-ups in the recent CESAFI season will be grateful to be able to show what this team is capable of on the national stage.  

Even though the Blue Eagles swept their way to get to the PCCL Final Four, the Green Lancers did the same to be able to secure a slot in the next round which means that they are a team to be reckoned with even though they lost a formidable scorer in Rey Suerte who is about to start his professional career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) which starts this coming Sunday.

In other words, the Blue Eagles will need to bring in their One Big Fight against UV because even though the latter lost to the former in the previous encounter, it doesn't mean that the result will be the same this year. 

As they say, the ball is round which means anything can happen. 

Photo is from Sun Star Cebu