The Gilas Pilipinas Cadets try to end a slump in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup Wednesday when they square off against a rebuilding Perpetual Help at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Cadets opened up with losses to Ateneo, La Salle and San Beda and hope to finally notch a win when they square off with Perpetual Help and its new coach, Frankie Lim, at 6:30 p.m.
Led by amateur sensation Kobe Paras, the young Nationals will face an Altas squad that features NCAA holdovers Prince Eze, AJ Coronel and Keith Pido.
Lim is being tasked to rebuild the Perpetual program, with an eye toward replicating his success during his stint as coach of the San Beda Red Lions.
Lim steered San Beda to NCAA men’s basketball championships in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. He takes over a team that also added former UE Red Warrior Edgar Charcos to its roster.
Far Eastern University and Letran tangle in the 4:30 p.m. game looking to stay unbeaten.
Emilio Aguinaldo College opens the day’s schedule against University of the East at 10 a.m.
Mapua, meanwhile, takes on National University at 12:30 p.m. and San Sebastian battles St. Benilde after.
Mapua is undefeated thus far in the tournament, and is coming off a 77-74 squeaker over EAC.
Before the main matches, the Hanes 1-on-1 King of the Hardcourt will debut with La Salle’s Miggy Cortez taking on Lyceum of the Philippines rookie Yancy Remulla at 4 p.m.
Ateneo is also among the undefeated squads in the tournament after leading by as many as 32 points in a 100-72 rout of winless UP.
In another match the past week, St. Benilde shot down Jose Rizal, 104-83.