MANILA, Philippines—With key players back to power their bids, University of the Philippines and Far Eastern U remain hot favorites for a repeat romp in the UAAP Season 74 football tournaments that kick off Jan. 15 at the Ateneo pitch.
Southeast Asian Games veterans Jinggoy Valmayor and Reymark Fernandez will spearhead the Fighting Maroons following the departure of last year’s Most Valuable Player Stephen Permanes, while the Lady Tamaraws will still rely on last season’s MVP Frea Fado.
State U, seeking a 16th title in the league, opens its campaign against Ateneo at 3:15 p.m. Also clashing on opening day are La Salle and University of the East at 10 a.m. and University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern U at 1 p.m.
The women’s matches pit La Salle against Ateneo and UST versus UP while the juniors schedule feature the Baby Tamaraws against the Tiger Cubs and the Eaglets against the De La Salle-Zobel squad.
Meanwhile, the volleyball tournament resumes Saturday with FEU and National U colliding at 2 p.m. and Adamson and Ateneo clashing at 3:30 p.m. in the women’s contest at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.
The UAAP chess competitions get going Jan. 14 at the FEU-Manila Mini Theater with the star-studded Tamaraws eyeing a league-equalling sixth straight men’s championship and the Lady Archers seeking a second consecutive crown.