Still ecstatic over its semifinal-clinching win over University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta on Wednesday, De La Salle University-Flying V seeks another win—this time for a spot in the Finals—when the 2012 IPPCA Football Pre-Season Cup Final Four gets going today at Nuvali Field in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
La Salle, which scored the requisite eight goals to clinch the last semifinal spot that also ousted Ateneo-Flying V from the Final Four, battles last year’s UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas-Metroil at 1 p.m. over at Pitch 1.
The Growling Tigers, though, are slightly favored to prevail over the Archers, judging by the form they showed in beating defending NCAA champion San Beda, 4-1, in their elimination match last Nov. 11.
The other Final Four pairing pits Group A qualifier Far Eastern University against darkhorse Emilio Aguinaldo College, the top team in Group D and the only NCAA team remaining with a chance for a spot in the Finals slated on Nov. 25.
The unbeaten Tamaraws (3-0-0) and the Generals (2-0-1) also clash at 1 p.m. over at Pitch 2 to complete the day’s blockbuster semifinals in the tournament sponsored by Meralco, Nuvali, Nature’s Spring, Molten, N20 Gastropub, Boysen Paints, BDO, Topcoms/StarSports Korea, Bacchus, CDO San Marino Corned Tuna and Pingping Lechon, and bankrolled by IPPCA members Chemrez Technologies Inc., Eastern Petroleum Corp., Filpride/USA88, Seaoil Philippines Inc., Flying V, Oilink, Unioil, International Engineer Phils. Inc., Filoil Energy Company, City Oil, Metro Oil Subic, LPGMA, Omni Petroleum Corp, Trans Overseas Industrial Corp. and CIIS.
In the juniors side, the FEU-Fern Baby Tamaraws (3-0-0) test the mettle of the Ateneo Baby Eagles (3-0-0) in a battle between two heavyweights over at Pitch 1, while De La Salle-Zobel takes on San Beda in the other semis pairing at Pitch 2.
The Baby Tams hold the distinction of scoring a record 43-0 demolition of the Letran Squires last Oct. 27, and will carry that momentum against the Blue Eaglets.