Preseason football lures top college sides
Expect an even more competitive varsity football season when the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA) rolls off a new tournament pitting Manila’s best collegiate teams this weekend.
The 2012 IPPCA Pre-Season Football Cup kicks off at 9 a.m. this Sunday at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa City with the organizing Filoil Flying V Sports seeing it as a strong venue for the teams’ collegiate campaign buildup.
“Before the teams start the UAAP or NCAA season, they need 25 tuneup games,” Joey Guillermo, league co-chair and Filoil Flying V Sports general manager, said at the PSA Forum yesterday at Shakey’s Malate. “With IPPCA coming in, it will add to the teams’ games.”
The tournament has drawn top teams led by back-to-back UAAP champ University of the Philippines and San Beda, the team that has reigned in 10 of the last NCAA 11 seasons.
Completing the 16-team men’s division are Ateneo, La Salle, Far Eastern U, National U, University of the East, University of Santo Tomas, St. Benilde, Mapua, Perpetual Help, Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Lyceum and guest teams Rizal Technological U and University of Makati.
La Salle Green Hills, which is gunning for a record 11th straight NCAA juniors title, and UAAP juniors back-to-back winner FEU-Diliman banner the high school contest that also includes Ateneo, De La Salle Zobel, UST, San Beda, Letran, San Sebastian, Arellano, Perpetual Help and Xavier.
