After weeks of play between UAAP and NCAA teams, the quarterfinal round of the seniors Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup seniors division starts on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. Here are the match-ups.
San Beda vs. CSB, 12:45 p.m.
College of Saint Benilde barely made it to the Filoil quarterfinals, finishing fourth in Group B with a 4-4 record. For CSB coach Richard Del Rosario, it’s a gift that they will take with open arms.
“Our only goal is to improve and we are given a gift na nakapasok na kami sa playoffs,” said Del Rosario. “They feel good about themselves and that’s one of our goals, too.”
Now, the Blazers get a real test as they face the undefeated San Beda Red Lions. Del Rosario welcomes the challenge.
“Para sa akin it’s not bad news facing San Beda. Kasi if you play a stronger team, regardless of the result, gusto mo lang sila makita mag-improve. It’s a good measure for us kung nasan na kami,” said Del Rosario.
San Beda cruised in the eliminations with a perfect 8-0 record including a 20-point victory over Letran in their last outing. But the Red Lions will have to deal with the loss of Julius Armon, who decided to stay in the United States and try his luck in the NBA D-League.
UST vs. NU, 2:30 p.m.
Just like the Red Lions, the Bulldogs breezed through the eliminations with an unblemished 8-0 win-loss card as they rode on the shoulders of last season’s UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks and Emmanuel Mbe.
The Bulldogs wrapped up their elimination round assignments early then proceeded to Xiamen, China for a two-week training camp.
Thanks to the play of their leading scorer Aljohn Mariano, the Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals finishing with a 5-3 win-loss record in a tough Group A side.
FEU vs. Ateneo, 4:15 p.m.
Ateneo has yet to scout Far Eastern University due to their annual training in the United States but coach Norman Black already knows what to expect from the Tamaraws.
“FEU will always be FEU and I’m expecting a tough match,” said Black.
The Blue Eagles lost to their archrivals De La Salle over the weekend but are still one of the favorites in the preseason tournament after ending the eliminations in second place in Group A with a 6-2 win-loss slate.
The Tamaraws, meanwhile, are tied with San Sebastian with a 6-2 record but settled for third place after they lost to the Stags in the eliminations.
DLSU vs. San Sebastian, 6 p.m.
La Salle coach Gee Abanilla expects a physical match against NCAA runner-up San Sebastian.
“Mahirap sila kalaban pero it’s going to be learning experience for us. I expect a physical match. We got a lot of young guys and every game, we learn something,” said Abanilla.
For San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson, he is looking forward to facing the Green Archers after placing second in Group B.
“I haven’t faced La Salle before so it’s going to be a challenge,” said Robinson.
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