UP battles Gilas; LPU-Letran in Filoil cagefest

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from nailing that elusive first win, both the University of the Philippines and the Gilas Cadets will lock horns and go separate ways when they clash at the 12th Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup on Tuesday, with one team notching its second of the summer tournament.

The Fighting Maroons barged into the win column of the tough Group A bracket of the tournament when they topped the young National University Bulldogs, 73-57, last Friday.

The Gilas Cadets, on the other hand, got a huge output from Fil-New Zealander Ken Tuffin, who scored 17 points when they dismantled the Perpetual Help Altas, 72-63, last May 2. Both sides have five matches left in group play. They are currently chasing leaders Ateneo (4-0), Mapua and La Salle (3-0) and San Beda (2-1) for the quarterfinals. The two teams battle in the 7 p.m. nightcap of the five-match offering.

The second main match that tips off at 4:30 p.m. features the Lyceum Pirates against the Letran Knights. The two teams won their respective opening assignments then fell in their second outing. Lyceum, in all probability, will field its entire lineup that was rested when they lost to San Sebastian last week.

The Pirates were coming off a successful D-League Aspirants’ Cup campaign where they bagged the title over Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian. Expected to be in uniform are Mike Nzeusseu, CJ Perez, Jesper Ayaay, brothers JC and JV Marcelino, Raymar Caduyac, Ralph Tansingco and Spencer Pretta, who all missed the Filoil match versus a vengeful San Sebastian.

The high school caging gets underway when the Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles take on the Letran Squires at 10 a.m. Winless Emilio Aguinaldo College and NU part ways in the 12:30 p.m. game while in Group B play, Far Eastern University and Jose Rizal College battle at 2:15 p.m.

The third match of the Hanes One-on-One King of the Hardcourt is slated for 4 p.m. when the College of St. Benilde’s Prince Carlos mixes it up against San Beda’s Kenneth Mocon.

Tickets to the matches to the tournament can be purchased at the gate of the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.