 |
| Chairman Rey Gamboa and Tournament Director Joey Guillermo will oversee the PCCL this year. Ivan Saldajeno |
By Ivan Saldajeno
SAN JUAN, MM--The format for the 2018 Philippine Collegiate Champions League is already interesting in itself.
But all the more is how the tournament will end.
Usually, what succeeds a playoff series of a certain length is another series of an equal or even a longer length.
However, the PCCL veered away from it as after a best-of-three national semifinals comes a one-game showdown for the national championship.
During the media launch of the PCCL tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre on Tuesday, Chairman Rey Gamboa explained why the national final is interestingly shorter than the semis.
"We believe that it will be more exciting, parang NCAA [March] Madness ng America, wherein something can happen," said Gamboa.
He added that teams outside of the UAAP and the NCAA have a better chance to win the PCCL crown if the knockout final is to be played instead of a best-of-three series.
"Iba yung one game lang eh. In a three-game series, siguradong mananalo sila (powerhouse teams), but in a one-game knockout, you can never be sure," Gamboa further said. "It is our objective of giving them a chance to be national champion."
One semifinal will feature reigning NCAA champion San Beda taking on the UAAP champion, while the other series will pit the winners of the regional stages.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
One semifinal will feature reigning NCAA champion San Beda taking on the UAAP champion, while the other series will pit the winners of the regional stages.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
.jpg)
