Letran makes Filoil debut; Ateneo, La Salle grace Premier Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Even as all eyes will be on the second matches in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup for Ateneo and La Salle, much of the scrutiny will be on the defending champion Letran Knights, who take on the Lyceum Pirates on Friday, May 6, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Knights lost two of their biggest stars in Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal, who are both now in the professional ranks, but also their head coach in Aldin Ayo, who is now handling the La Salle Green Archers. However, they do have another champion coach in tow with former National University Bullpups coach Jeff Napa, who has three UAAP Juniors titles to his name.

Napa can still count on a sizeable core of heady veterans in Rey Nambatac, McJour Luib, Bong Quinto, Felix Apreku, JP Calvo and Jom Sollano, who all played key roles in last year’s NCAA title run.

Former Letran Juniors star, Jerrick Balanza, with a year of seniors experience under his belt, figures to play a bigger role from the small forward position. Six-foot-five center Christian Balagasay showed some promise last season when he came in for Sollano at the slot. Like Balanza, he is expected to step up in his game.

“It is easy to say we are not as strong since we lost Mark and Kevin,” explained Napa. “But we also expect the younger players especially Jerrick and Christian to step up in their game. They had a year to learn what college basketball is like. Now this is their chance to shine. Aside from the development of the younger players, part of our challenge as well as to make sure that everyone knows their roles and will play that trademark Letran defense."

Letran will be playing opening day winners Lyceum at the 11:15 a.m. match that opens the seniors competitions. The LPU Pirates beat back repeated attacks by Mapua, 91-82, behind the trio of Wilson Baltazar, Jasper Ayaay and Jebb Bulawan, who combined for 45 points and 22 rebounds.

In other Filoil matches, two opening day winners, La Salle and UE, parts ways immediately after at 2 p.m. while the Adamson and Ateneo face off at 4 p.m. The Green Archers fended off late rallies from Adamson in a 98-88 win while the Red Warriors rallied from a seven-point deficit with two minutes to play to defeat the Blue Eagles in overtime, 93-91, during the Premier Cup opening day last April 30.

La Salle under Ayo has been trying to master full court pressure defense, one that UE similarly employs and has had two seasons to master.

“I can’t say who will win but it will be interesting to find out,” said Red Warriors coach Derrick Pumaren, who coached La Salle to its first two UAAP championships in 1989 and 1990. He also played for both UE and La Salle in the early 1980s, transferring to the latter school when his father, Pilo Pumaren, was hired as coach of the Green Archers.

In juniors play, LPU and San Beda take on each other at 9:30 a.m. while the Ateneo Blue Eaglets face their Adamson counterparts at 6 p.m.

Tickets to the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup are available at the Filoil Flying V Centre gate or at Ticketnet.