Ateneo de Manila leads eight schools that have secured spots in the “Sweet 16” Finals of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship.

The Blue Eagles, last year’s losing finalists, emerged as the No. 1 team at the close of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) elimination round.

The rest of the UAAP teams that reached the Final Four also made it into the finals, namely: Far Eastern University, University of the East, and University of Santo Tomas.

The semifinalists in the ongoing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also booked berths in the PCC finals. They are unbeaten San Sebastian, San Beda College, Jose Rizal University, and Letran.

Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) chairman Reynaldo D. Gamboa said eight more slots would be filled up, including one berth reserved for the champion of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI).

Seven slots would be disputed in zonal qualifying games set in November in Naga City, Cebu City, and Metro Manila.

Defending champion De La Salle University, which placed fifth in the UAAP, will have to go through zonal qualifying on Nov. 12-14 in Naga City. Adamson University, on the other hand, will compete in the Cebu zonal qualifying on November 4-8.

The fifth and sixth placers in the NCAA will also see action in zonal qualifying. At present, Arellano University Chiefs, College of Saint Benilde Blazers, and Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals are in contention.

All the games in the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship “Sweet 16” Finals will be covered by the ABS-CBN television network and aired nationwide on Channel 23 with replays on Balls.

PLDT and Smart Communications are the major sponsors of this event.

For more details about the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship Games, visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.