MANILA - Western Visayas (WV) defeated Cotabato (R-12), 4-1 in crossover match yesterday and will face Dipolog City (R-9) for the title today in the football event, while the men and women basketball squads are also eyeing final slot against Davao City and NCR last night in the 2010 CHED National Games at ULTRA here.

The football match will be played at 10AM today and Coach Norman Fegidero, Jr. is hopeful to hurdle the obstacle for the title. In fact, WV squad is thankful to Dipolog City in eliminating defending champion San Beda College of Coach Aris Caslib playing for National Capital Region, beating them Thursday, 1-0.

Caslib have been scouting the game plan of Western Visayas played by West Negros University when the latter is playing against Cagayan Valley Wednesday for a 16-1 triumph.

This is the nth time Western Visayas squad advances to the finals since reviving the PRISAA losing to NCR last year in Naga City, 1-0 through a lucky kick that went inside.

Jovin Bedic scored for WV in the 14th and 19th minute, while Ralph Layumas and Rodolf Bebanco added in the 63rd and 89th.

WV XI squad blanked Cagayan Valley, 5-1 Wednesday.

Meanwhile, WV men’s basketball squad escaped a hairline, 95-94 against Region 2 yesterday and is playing as of press time against Davao City in the crossover. In case they hurdle Davao City, they will battle San Sebastian College of National Capital Region in the finals today.

In the women’s side, they beat Region 3 (Central Luzon), 96-62 and is playing also against NCR in the crossover for the right to fight for the finals today.

The men and women’s basketball squads are the defending champion in the tournament in the last national PRISAA held in Naga City last year. But the men’s team was represented by John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University coached by ex-PBA Genesis Sasuman, while the women’s squad under coach Lemuel Ledesma. This year’s men squad is represented by majority of players from West Negros University coached by Troy Sarabia and which got reinforcement from University of San Agustin, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.

Meanwhile, WV also won the title in women’s table tennis but settled for silver in the men’s division. The region’s women softball squad played by Central Philippine University in Iloilo lost against CAR in the quarterfinal after absorbing defeat at the hands of NCR represented by Adamson University. NCR and CAR will battle for the championship today.*