Lancers begin title quest in PCCL cage wars today

CEBU, Philippines — The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers will kick off their title campaign in the Elite Eight of the 2017 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) National Championship against the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates today at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.

Game time is set at 3 p.m., with the Lancers gunning for a win to bolster their chances of advancing to the semifinals of the week-long tiff that will determine the best collegiate ballclub in the country.

"Of course we are aiming for no less than the championship, but we will take it one game at a time. We will just do our best to give a good representation to the UV Lancers being the only team from the Visayas in this prestigious tournament," said UV coach Gary Cortes.

The Lancers, whose best showing in the PCCL was a second-place finish in 2007 when they were still under the tutelage of Elmer 'Boy' Cabahug, will field in the core of their roster that dominated the past two seasons of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), Cebu's premiere inter-school athletic league.

Led by Liberian import Bassieru Sackor and the awesome foursome of Rey Suerte, Josue Segumpan, Tristan Albina and Jerome Napao, the Lancers can also count on the likes of Sheldon Gahi, Monic Soliva, Jayson Balabag, Michael Maestre, Ted Saga, Jancork Cabahug, Jossier Hassan and Ubert Villaceran. Melvin Butohan and Gileant Delator are expected to add firepower to their offensive arsenal.

The Lancers and the Pirates are bundled in Group A alongside UAAP powerhouse Ateneo Blue Eagles and Naga College Foundation (NCF) Tigers from Bicol region.

In Group B, the contenders are the reigning UAAP champions La Salle Green Archers, San Beda Red Lions, San Sebastian Stags and Holy Trinity College (HTC) Wildcats of General Santos City.

They will play in a single round robin format, with the top two teams of each group qualifying for the crossover semis. The winners will then clash for the championship on February 15 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, Metro Manila.