San Beda and Far Eastern University start their bids to win the national championship as the Sweet 16 Finals of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League begins Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Coming off disappointing losses in their respective leagues, both squads are favored to enter the tournament's next stage against unheralded opponents.

The Tamaraws battle NCAA fifth-placer and wild card entrant Arellano University in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m. while the Red Lions take on another wild card team in NAASCU titlist San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite at 4 p.m.

Ranked among the favorites before the start of the UAAP this season, FEU went cold during the latter portion of the tournament before suffering an upset loss to University of the East in the Final Four at the height of the controversy surrounding its star guard Mark Barroca.

On the other hand, San Beda was picked to win its fourth consecutive NCAA title but suffered an embarrassing sweep at the hands of San Sebastian in the finals.

The Chiefs and Baycats reached the tournament's main phase by virtue of winning their respective Visayas-Mindanao zonal qualifiers.

Arellano topped the Bacolod leg by sweeping the three-day event while San Sebastian-Cavite needed to score an upset victory over Adamson on the final day of the Cebu tilt to reach the Sweet 16.

The Baycats of coach Egay Macaraya defeated University of Manila to capture their second NAASCU title behind league MVP Jhun Gracilla and 2008 MVP and PBL standout Kris Lucernas.

The Tamaraws are in the bottom half of the draw and would likely face the likes of defending champion La Salle University, UAAP runner-up University of the East and NCAA champion San Sebastian in their bid to reach the final.

A win over Arellano would forge a quarterfinal showdown with either UE or University of Cebu.

The Lions, on the other hand, will have to get past UAAP titlist Ateneo de Manila, Jose Rizal and CESAFI king University of Visayas to make it into the finals.

Should they hurdle their opening assignment, the Lions would either face the UV Lancers or the Mapua Cardinals in the quarterfinals.

The first round matches of the Sweet 16 Finals, sponsored by PLDT and Smart, will also be played at The Arena in San Juan and at the Ormoc Dome in Ormoc City.

More details of the tournament can be obtained at the official PCCL website www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.