Archers, Bulldogs clash for Filoil crown

MANILA, Philippines - With last year’s title protagonists Ateneo and San Beda relegated to the background, National U and La Salle hope to provide an equally exciting duel in the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Hanes Cup finals set today at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Bulldogs ended the Eagles’ title-retention bid with a convincing 85-68 victory in their semifinal clash last Saturday while the Archers shocked the erstwhile unbeaten San Beda Red Lions, 50-46, in their own side of the Final Four.

At center stage and against another unbeaten team, La Salle relishes the chance to go for a championship and underscore its readiness for the UAAP.

“We’re just happy that we got this far in the tournament. We’ll definitely try to go for it even if we know we are the clear underdog here,” said La Salle rookie coach Gee Abanilla.

Against the resurgent Archers, the Bulldogs will again rely on a solid group of scorers led by Bobby Parks, who torched the Eagles with 30 points.

But despite their rout of Ateneo, the Bulldogs remain wary of the Archers when they collide at 4 p.m.

“It’s a different La Salle team that we’re facing and we can’t be overconfident against them,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano. “They have a good system, young, talented so we have to be really ready against them.”

Despite a relative young line-up, expect La Salle to match up well with the fancied Bulldogs with big man Norberto Torres expected to man the paint and guards Mark Tallo, Almond Vosotros and the veteran LA Revilla to orchestrate the team’s play patterns.

Ateneo and San Beda dispute third place at 2 p.m with both seniors game to be aired live over ABS-CBN Studio 23.

The tournament is presented by Bostik Phils., Inc., in cooperation with Total Phils., Inc., and major sponsors Kia Motors, TMS Ship Agencies, Inc., Vulcaseal, Bayo, BDO, Molten, Nature’s Spring and Oxycan.