UE, Centro Escolar clash for Filoil Flying V lead

UNIVERSITY of the East and Centro Escolar University dispute the solo lead in Group B today while National University vies for back-to-back wins in Group A in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at Filoil FlyingV Arena in San Juan City.

After surviving a nail-biter last week, the Red Warriors hope for a better showing against the dangerous Scorpions at 3:15 p.m.

“It’s the attitude that I’m scared of,” said UE coach Derick Pumaren. “They think they can beat [some teams] easily.”

The Warriors and the Scorpions share the Group B lead with idle San Beda at 3-0.

The Bulldogs, the UAAP champions reeling from the departure of several key cogs, also aim to work on their chemistry against St. Benilde at 5 p.m.

“The objective is to be able to give our young players time to mature,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano. “It’s going to be a process, but it’s still a long way to go.”

In other Group A matches, Letran and Emilio Aguinaldo College shoot for a second win at 1:30 p.m. while Adamson debuts versus University of San Jose-Recoletos at 11:45 a.m.

Edgar Charcos bailed out UE in its last outing as the Warriors slipped past winless Mapua, 79-77, last Wednesday.

The Warriors turned to the seldom-used Charcos in the final minute where he hit clutch baskets, including the game-winning free throws with 2.6 ticks left.

CEU coach Egay Macaraya, meanwhile, hopes to draw another explosive effort from Samboy de Leon, who fired 18 of his 24 points in the first quarter that set the tone for the Scorpions’ 90-76 whipping of Mapua.