DEFENDING the throne is the biggest goal for the University of the Philippines, as it spearheads the 17 teams participating in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup tipping off on May 18.
The Fighting Maroons, also the reigning UAAP men’s basketball champions, are hungry to keep the crown after winning the last two editions of the premier preseason tilt.
And if they do win this unprecedented third straight, the Diliman side can claim the Amb. Eduardo “Danding” M. Cojuangco, Jr. (ECJ) Perpetual Trophy for good in this tourney presented by ABC Tile Adhesives.
But accomplishing that isn’t that easy for UP, all the more with coach Goldwin Monteverde losing key cogs from last year’s title drive.
Rey Remogat joins forces with Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, and Terrence Fortea, as they try to keep the maroon-and-green ship afloat following the departures of JD Cagulangan, Quentin Millora-Brown, Aldous Torculas, and Francis Lopez.
Rival La Salle is just as hungry, with coach Topex Robinson trotting out a rejigged crew bannered by transferees Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, and Luis Pablo for this redemption tour.
University of Santo Tomas, led by Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao, as well as Adamson, Far Eastern University, National University, and University of the East complete the UAAP Group, as teams play a single round robin format with only the top four teams advancing.
NCAA champion Mapua is new-look, too
Not to be outdone is the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball champion Mapua which will still be leaning on the leadership of Clint Escamis.
Giving the Cardinals a run for their money in the NCAA Group are nemesis Benilde, alongside Final Four teams San Beda and LPU. Rounding out the field are Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Jose Rizal University, Letran, Perpetual, and San Sebastian.
The top four teams from each group progress in a crossover quarterfinals, with the victors advancing to the knockout semifinals, and finally, a best-of-three championship series.
Chairman Virgil Villavicencio, commissioners Joe Lipa and Bert dela Rosa, tournament director Bennett Palad, and marketing and finance head Diana Layug will once again lead the summer cage tilt at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup also has Playtime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
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