Filoil caging: Warriors, Knights collide

UNIVERSITY of the East and Letran try to strengthen their quarterfinal bids when they collide today, even as Adamson hopes to get back on track in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.

The Warriors, with a 2-2 record, face the Knights at 4:15 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan with both teams looking to join Ateneo in the next round.

The Eagles, who are training in the United States, have wrapped up their berth in the quarterfinals after winning six of their first seven games.

Looking to revive its bid for a place in the knockout round, Adamson tangles with Jose Rizal U at 12:45 p.m. Struggling to cope with the level in the preseason tournament, NCAA squads Perpetual Help and St. Benilde meet in the 2:30 p.m. tussle.

But the spotlight will be on the duel between Letran and UE which  boast several strong players in their respective lineups.

Roi Sumang, JR Sumido and Chris Javier will lead the Warriors, who have also been leaning on Charles Mammie, a 6-foot-8 center from Sierra Leone.

Letran center Raymund Almazan, one of the NCAA’s best defensive players last season, will be assigned to stop Mammie.

The Knights have also been getting brilliant games from rookie Rey Nambatac, who is playing like a grizzled veteran particularly in crunch time, and diminutive playmaker Mark Cruz.

Letran coach Caloy Garcia is hoping to avoid a repeat of the Knights’ narrow 77-78 defeat to the University of Santo Tomas in a game where they blew a 17-point lead in the fourth period.

The tournament is presented by Hanes and Vulcaseal/Bostick and supported by Master Facial Wash, Starmobile, Meralco, San Mig Coffee, DHL, Nature’s Spring, Reyes BBQ, Banco De Oro, and Bayo.