Coming off breakthrough wins, University of the Philippines and the highly-fancied Gilas Cadets clash on Tuesday in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup with both seeking to stay on track and catch up with the classification round leaders.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Fighting Maroons barged into the win column of tough Group A after topping the youthful National University Bulldogs, 73-57, on Friday, just three days after the Cadets were finally able to put it all together and scored a 72-63 rout of the Perpetual Help Altas.
Both sides have five matches left in group play, and a loss would leave the leading Ateneo Blue Eagles way ahead.
Ateneo, Mapua and La Salle are undefeated going into the first week of the prestigious tournament these powerhouse squads are using to fine-tune for the coming UAAP and NCAA seasons.
The second featured match gets going at 4:30 p.m. which will see Lyceum and Letran locking horns as the Pirates and the Knights try to get back on track.
Lyceum, in all probability, will field its entire lineup that was rested when they lost to San Sebastian last week.
The Pirates were coming off a successful D-League Aspirants’ Cup campaign where they bagged the title over Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian.
Expected to be in uniform are Mike Nzeusseu, CJ Perez, Jesper Ayaay, brothers JC and JV Marcelino, Raymar Caduyac, Ralph Tansingco, and Spencer Pretta who all missed the Filoil match versus a vengeful San Sebastian.