GAME between the University of Baguio and University of Northern Philippines for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League finally fires off Friday at the Cordillera Career Development College gym.

The Cardinals, Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League champion faces the taller State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association champion Sharks in their 1:30 p.m. duel in a bid to secure a possible slot in the zonal championship of the PCCL.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

UB will have a long road ahead before it can enter into the Sweet 16 of the PCCL after the eliminations for the 212 collegiate teams from 27 leagues, which have designated four levels.

UB will have to win against visiting UNP squad and hopes tormentor Lyceum of Subic Bay loses to Lyceum Northwestern University to advance in the zonal where a tougher field also awaits them.

The Cardinals will try to eye one of the seven seats to the "Sweet 16" Finals which will be at stake at the zonal qualifying games scheduled to be held starting November in Naga City, Cebu City, and Metro Manila.

The regional champion will advance to the Manila zonals set Nov. 9 to 12 joining UCAA champions Universal College Dragons, NAASCU runners-up University of Manila Hawks, the ISSA and PISCUAA champions and the NCAA sixth placer.

Last year, Saint Louis University beat BBEAL champion Cordillera Career Development College to advance to round 32 of the PCCL.

SLU bowed to Emilio Aguinaldo College in the first round.

The Philippine Collegiate Championship is a nationwide multi-level competition starting with the "mother league" games.

The various leagues' winning teams will advance to the regional, zonal and the final phase, the "Sweet 16" Final Challenge in Manila.

The tournament will also provide teams and players the opportunity to look beyond their "mother leagues" and aim for higher achievements such as the regional and zonal championships and the chance to be crowned as the Philippine champion.

Aside from the prestige of being crowned the national champion, schools can also look forward to over P2 million worth of scholarships and other grants and prizes at stake in the regional, zonal and national championships.

The grants will be a big incentive especially for schools with limited funds for sports development. (Roderick Osis)