Filoil preseason opens with blockbuster teams from NCAA, UAAP

FILE–La Salle’s Michael Phillips and UP’s Luis Pablo fight for the ball during Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The 17th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup will begin with marquee matchups from both the NCAA and the UAAP.

With five games scheduled for the opening day of the preseason tilt, La Salle and University of the Philippines will rekindle their rivalry in the main event at 5 pm in a Season 86 Finals rematch.

The last time both the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons faced off on the big stage, the former upstaged the latter in Game 3 of the Finals to deal UP its second straight runner-up finish in the UAAP.

This time, though, UP will have to make do without its star players Malick Diouf and CJ Cansino, who have already exhausted all their playing years.

READ: UP beats La Salle to win Filoil Preseason crown; Harold Alarcon named MVP

La Salle, meanwhile, will still have the services of reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao albeit not having the guard tandem of Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy.

Meanwhile, longtime NCAA rivals San Beda and Letran face off to write a new chapter in their long-storied clash in the penultimate game of the opener.

When San Beda last saw Letran in the oldest collegiate league in the country, the Red Lions trounced the Knights in the last game of the elimination’s second round, which kickstarted their Final Four run to the championship.

Things will however be different for San Beda now, to say the least. This time, they will not have the talent of Jacob Cortez, who switched ship from Mendiola to Taft in a homecoming move to La Salle.

Letran, meanwhile, looks to make a statement after going on one of their worst runs in school history in Season 99 with a 2-16 record.

Other games featured on opening day on Saturday, next week, at San Juan Arena are bouts between Adamson and University of the East, Mapua and Lyceum and Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal University.