SAYING it will greatly benefit their teams facing tougher challenges in the coming season, the coaches of the country’s top collegiate teams welcomed the staging of the 2012 IPPC Football Pre-Season Cup kicking off Sunday at the Nuvali Football grounds n Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
De La Salle coach Hans Peter Smit sees the tournament as a good opportunity to gauge his squad’s readiness for the UAAP season.
“The tournament is what we have wanted for years now,” said Smit. “To pit the top the teams against each other. It will showcase the different brand of college football.”
Smit added: “Definitely, it will prepare my team for the upcoming UAAP season. Having a number of games against other university teams will gauge DLSU’s program and how we will fare in the UAAP.”
The Archers will parade one of the finest goalkeepers in the country in Patrick Deyto, but Smit said a total team effort will be needed for Archers to taste success in the tournament.
Arellano coach Ravelo Saluria, EAC’s Michael Agbayani and Mapua’s Casper Ngo were all praises for the event.
“This (tournament) will help us a lot in terms of exposure, as such, this tournament will serve as a venue for us to gauge the readiness of our team, identify its weaknesses and be able to work on it,” said Saluria, a former national player.
“This tournament will be a big help in my preparation for the upcoming NCAA season to correct, improve and strengthen my team for the NCAA,” said Agbayani.
Organized by the Filoil Flying V Sports, the tournament will also be sponsored by Nuvali, Nature’s Spring, Molten, N20 Gastropub and Bacchus Energy Drink