Ateneo, La Salle open Filoil Flying V tourney

MANILA, Philippines – Just as the UAAP volleyball tournament reaches its spellbinding climax, the pre-season basketball tournament gets underway Saturday, April 30, with Ateneo and La Salle making their Filoil Flying V Premier Cup debut against separate foes.

 

The De La Salle Green Archers, still smarting from missing the UAAP Final Four last season, unveil their young line-up aided and abetted by veterans Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres with talented Cameroonian Ben Mbala patrolling the lane. Under new head coach Aldin Ayo and with some exciting new talent, La Salle has what it takes to compete for the UAAP men’s basketball title. However, for now, the challenge is for this DLSU team to learn the pressure defense that their coach perfected in Letran where he led the Knights to the NCAA crown last year.

 

Standing in their way in their Filoil debut are the Franz Pumaren-coached Adamson Falcons that are loaded with exciting Fil-Ams including Jerrick Ahanmisi, younger brother of pro player Maverick, who is with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

 

Adamson and La Salle tangle at 10am while Ateneo, back after a two year absence form the tournament, take on another team with some roots from their arch-rivals from Taft. The Blue Eagles battle the Derrick Pumaren-coached Red Warriors, one of the league’s exciting squads from last season, at 2pm. 

 

Like the Green Archers, the Blue Eagles, under coaching consultant and national team head coach Tab Baldwin, will parade a youthful lineup bereft of many of last years stars. Their Premier Cup roster only lists John Apacible, Aaron Black, Chibueze Ikeh, Matt Nieto, and Vince Tolentino who were on last season’s roster. “Right now, we’ve split our players into as many leagues as we can play,” said assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “We want to give as much exposure to everyone on our roster including Team B.”

 

Ateneo’s Juniors squad, the Blue Eaglets take on reigning NCAA Juniors champions San Beda at 12noon. The Blue Eaglets will have 6’9” center Kai Sotto, son of pro player Ervin, in the line-up.

 

Tickets to the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup are available at the gate of the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan or at all Ticketnet branches.