Filoil Flying V: La Salle, UST clash in Filoil triple-header opener

MANILA, Philippines—A classic match-up between La Salle and University of Santo Tomas will headline the explosive triple-header to kick off the 7th Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Pre-season Cup on April 13.

Fans raring for college basketball action will get a taste of the battle of the Teng brothers, Jeric and Jeron, in the first day of pre-season action as the Green Archers and Growling Tigers clash at 4 p.m.

The title-hungry La Salle is set to showcase the heralded Kib Montalbo while UST returns a year older and year hungrier after being denied by Ateneo in the last UAAP season.

But NCAA three-peat champion San Beda opens up the festivities, taking on National University at 2 p.m. at the Arena in San Juan.

The Red Lions have some familiar faces as Anthony and David Semerad returns to San Beda along with a new figure in the sidelines in coach Boyet Fernandez.

Meanwhile, it’s the battle of the champions in the 6 p.m. contest as five-time UAAP champion Ateneo goes up against guest team and CESAFI titlist Southwestern University.

The new-look Blue Eagles, who also have new mentor in Bo Perasol, faces a Cebu-side with an imposing 6’10” center Siewe Armel, who replaced Ben Mbala.

The 18 participating teams, composed of schools from the UAAP and NCAA and the guest team, were divided into two groups and will figure in a single-round robin elimination round.

The top four teams per group to emerge in the elimination round advances to the knockout quarterfinal round. The rest of the games then on will be a knockout, including the championship match.

According to the tournament format released to the media, all ties in each group when it comes to the win-loss record are to be decided by quotient system.