MANILA, Philippines — University of the East will put its new system to a test when the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup unfolds on Wednesday.
Just over a week after tapping new coach Derrick Pumaren, the Red Warriors aim for a successful summer run that they hope to sustain in this season’s UAAP men’s basketball wars.
“Time is not on our side,” Pumaren said of the Warriors who ruled last year’s edition but failed to carry over their preseason form to the UAAP. “So it’s more of getting to know the players first.”
A tough first test, though, awaits the Warriors as they clash with UAAP champion La Salle at the start of Group A action at 4 p.m. this Saturday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Four-time NCAA titlist San Beda takes on Letran in a rematch of last season’s NCAA Finals in the Group B duel at 2 p.m.
Roi Sumang, one of the top scorers last summer after averaging 16.5 points on top of 5.6 assists, heads the Red Warriors’ campaign along with Charles Mammie.
The league now stakes the Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Perpetual Trophy, which will be given to the school that rules the premier summer tournament for three straight years.