Undefeated Ateneo, Mapua collide in Filoil cagefest

MANILA, Philippines – The 4-0 Ateneo Blue Eagles and 3-0 Mapua Cardinals open Tuesday’s Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup action with a 12:30 p.m. clash at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The two teams feature homegrown-heavy lineups – a source of pride for their respective schools. At stake is the top spot of the tournament’s Group A, where Ateneo is tied with DLSU for the lead while the Cardinals are in second only due to matches played.

College of St. Benilde, another of the undefeated squads in the in the 19-team competition at 4-0, goes up against the 1-3 University of Santo Tomas in the 2:15 p.m. offering. CSB bucked an upset by Arellano University, 74-69, in their last outing. The Blazers, full grasping the system of second year head coach TY Tang, has been led by veterans Yankee Haruna and Clement Leutcheu and young stars Unique Naboa and Justin Gutang. Not only are they second scoring highest team (after La Salle), they are also the fifth-ranked squad on defense as of the moment.

The Growling Tigers, on the other hand, are a team in flux with new head coach Aldin Ayo still trying to put a competitive team together much more one with ceiling. According to Ayo, Akomo will return to active duty within the next few games and will get the services of two big men who will miss the tournament but suit up in time for the UAAP.

In the Hanes One-On-One King of the Hardcourt action, the University of the East’s Jason Straight goes up against Jose Rizal University’s Jed Mendoza. So far, La Salle’s Miggy Corteza, CSB’s Prince Carlos, Ateneo’s Jason Credo and Arellano University’s Maui Sera-Josef are some of the players to advance to the next stage of the tournament.

For the 4:30 p.m. game, 2-0 Adamson looks to continue their winning ways when they lock horns with UAAP rival FEU, which took it on the chin against CSB in their last outing for their first loss in four outings. The Soaring Falcons have drawn strong games not only from regulars Sean Manganti and Jerick Ahanmisi but also newcomers Jerome Lastimosa and Vince Magbuhos.

In the 7 p.m. nightcap, the 1-5 Gilas Cadets go up against the dangerous UE Red Warriors, who are 1-1 thus far. The young nationals were ousted from advancing to the second round after its debilitating loss to National University the past week.

“It’s all a learning process,” said Gilas team manager Butch Antonio about the showing of the cadets. “We haven’t had a full team at all, and practices have been difficult because our players have been also competing with their mother clubs. That is why we started preparing this early and we know what work we need to do.”

Tickets to the matches can be purchased at the gate of the Filoil Flying V Centre.