Diliman College and Olivarez College seek a championship showdown on Monday when they face their semifinal foes in the PG Flex Linoleum-Univers
The top-seeded Blue Dragons clash with the fourth-ranked Centro Escolar University Scorpions at 12 noon while No. 2 Olivarez Sea Lions battle No. 3 University of Batangas Brahmans at 2 p.m.
Diliman and Olivarez enjoy twice-to-beat privileges after topping the two-phase eliminations. If necessary, the knockout match will be on Nov. 4 at the same venue and will be televised on a delayed basis on Solar Sports.
Though armed with the No. 1 seeding, the defending champion Blue Dragons are still nursing from a stunning 108-85 loss to the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers at the end of the elims.
The defeat tainted their tally as they finished the elims at 9-1.
Diliman has also beaten CEU twice in the elims, but expect the Scorpions to go all-out this time to keep their title hopes alive.
In their first meeting, the Blue Dragons bludgeoned the six-man Scorpions, 90-62, but experienced some scary moments before prevailing, 66-62, in the second round where CEU played in full force.
Olivarez, which finished the elims at 8-2, searches for a third finals appearance and a third win against UB following earlier victories: an 84-78 decision in the first round and an 80-65 triumph in the second.
UB and CEU finished with similar 7-3 records but the Brahmans took the No. 3 spot due to the winner over the rule, having beaten the also undermanned Scorpions, 112-86, in the first round. (Kristel Satumbaga)