FIVE-TIME NCAA champion San Beda College clashes with De La Salle University Saturday in the main game of the 9th Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup which gets under way at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Before the Red Lions-Green Archers duel at 4 p.m., UAAP juniors winner Ateneo will take on San Beda’s junior team, also the NCAA champion, at 12 noon while University of the East and University of Santo Tomas collide at 2 p.m.
Jose Rizal University and Far Eastern University close out the day’s opening games in the 6 p.m. match.
La Salle got waylaid by FEU in the UAAP Season 77 Final Four while San Beda made short work of Arellano University in annexing their fifth straight NCAA crown.
While Anthony and David Semerad, Kyle Pascual and Rome dela Rosa have moved on to the professional ranks, San Beda, under new head coach Jamike Jarin, will count on one of the best collegiate backcourt tandems in the country in Ryusei Koga and Baser Amer.
They will also have old reliables Ola Adeogun, who is playing in his final season with San Beda, veteran forward Arthur dela Cruz Jr. and Jaypee Mendoza to count on.
San Beda will likewise parade Andre Paras, who played one season for the University of the Philippines.
Jeron Teng, Arnold Van Opstal, Thomas Torres and Jason Perkins will spearhead La Salle anew. They will be joined by new recruits Jollo Go and Andrei Caracut, a former Red Cubs star.
The Green Archers also have a blue chip transferee in Joshua Torralba, who suited up for the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals two seasons ago.