Bulldogs, Maroons seek 1st Filoil win

MANILA, Philippines – If you talk to National University head coach Jamike Jarin and his University of the Philippines counterpart Bo Perasol, they will talk about how they are building a team.

For Jarin, this is his second year at the helm of the Bulldogs, where he is whipping up a team made up of a lot of high school stars into a Final Four contender. Their youth is still evident as they lost their first two Filoil assignments in the final minutes of play.

For Perasol, this year is his third at Diliman, and he knows he has built what is seen as UP’s best chance in a long while to not only barge into the Final Four but even compete for a title. However, chemistry is still the key. And one side will put it all together when they battle at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan in the main game at 6:30 p.m. on May 4.

In other matches with a just as interesting subplot, the 3-0 Ateneo Blue Eagles face the University of the East with a familiar face behind the Red Warriors bench — Joe Silva.

Silva has been on the Blue Eagles’ coaching staff for several years and has skippered the Blue Eaglets to a pair of UAAP Juniors crowns, including the last season. He has also worn the blue and white during his playing days back in the 1990s. Shortly after he tendered his resignation to concentrate on putting up his own business, UE came calling. Even though interim coach Melvin Reyes will stand by the sidelines, Silva will be on deck as the Red Warriors slowly transition to their new coach.

It will be a test for the Blue Eagles, who have twice lost to UE in the last two Filoil Flying V Preseason Cups albeit on opening day. Ateneo, the Group A pace setters, will battle a veteran UE side led by Alvin Pasaol and Philip Manalang immediately after the 10 a.m. juniors opener between the FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws and the National University Bullpups.

UE won its Filoil opener last Wednesday, May 2, via 73-59, rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Friday also finds the second match of the Hanes One-on-One King of the Hardcourt bridging the day’s main matches at 4 p.m. when EAC’s Sean Neri faces the University of the East’s Jordan Sta. Ana. In the inaugural match, also last Wednesday, La Salle’s Miggy Corteza pounced on a fatigued Yancy Remulla of Lyceum who played 31 minutes in an earlier loss to San Sebastian. Corteza won, 16-7, and advances to the next round.

The Hanes One-On-One King of the Hardcourt is a sudden-death affair among participants with players advancing after each win in order to claim the top prize of Php20,000.

Then at 4:30 p.m., the 2-0 De La Salle Green Archers tackle a University of Perpetual Help Altas squad that will play minus AJ Coronel, who was suspended for the match after accumulating two unsportsmanlike fouls in their loss to the Gilas Cadets last Wednesday. The Altas are now coached by Frankie Lim, who steered the San Beda Red Lions to four NCAA men’s basketball crowns.