Ateneo forward Nonoy Baslao and Andre Marquez of UST battle for the rebound in the their 2009 Champions League match at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig last Friday. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

Games Monday (Ynares Sports Arena)
2 p.m. — FEU vs San Sebastian
4 p.m. — Ateneo vs San Beda

The champion teams from the UAAP and NCAA made their own statements Friday, scoring contrasting wins to advance to the Final Four of the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Despite the absence of top star Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Ateneo, the two-time UAAP champion, survived the feisty challenge of University of Santo Tomas for an 81-72 win while NCAA titlist San Sebastian leaned on Jimbo Aquino’s first quarter explosion for an 84-65 win over Letran.

With their victories, the Blue Eagles earned the right to face their former NCAA rivals, the San Beda Red Lions, while the Stags battle the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the semis on Monday.

In beating the Tigers, coach Norman Black needed the strong effort of Justin Chua, who ably filled the void left by Al-Hussaini by hitting 15 points and grabbing 14 rebounds with half of those coming from the offensive glass.

The 6-foot-6 Al-Hussaini failed to suit up for the second straight time due to his commitment with the Smart-Gilas RP national team.

Kirk Long topscored for Ateneo with 19 points, 12 of which came in the first quarter, while Eric Salamat and Chris Sumalinog added 13 and 10 points apiece.  They were instrumental in pulling Ateneo away from a slim 60-59 lead early in the final canto on a 9-0 blast.

The scores:
First Game
ATENEO 81 — Long 19, Chua 15, Salamat 13, Sumalinog 10, Baclao 9, Gonzaga 8, Salva 4, Reyes 3, Monfort 0.
UST 72 — Maliksi 25, Bautista 12, Teng 10, Mirza 9, Mariano 5, Fortuna 5, Afuang 4, Camus 2, Marquez 0, Felix 0.
Quarters: 19-23, 38-42, 58-56, 81-72.

Second Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 84 — Aquino 18, Sangalang 16, Pascual 11, Abueva 8, Semira 7, del Rio 6, Raymundo 6, Maconocido 4, Najorda 3, Gatchalian E. 2, Maiquez 2, Bulawan 1, Gatchalian J. 0.
LETRAN 65 — Belencion 18, del Rosario 14, Foronda 11, Alas 8, Gutilban 5, Taplah 4, Cortes 3, Malabago 2, Pantin 0, Ang 0.
Quarters: 31-10, 52-23, 67-43, 84-65.