FAMILIAR rivals headline the opening day of the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive on Sunday, rekindling Final Four flames and writing new chapters in their respective stories.
Reigning three-time preseason champion University of the Philippines faces off with UAAP semifinal foe University of Santo Tomas at 2 p.m., to be followed by the main game featuring the Season 88 king La Salle taking on rebuilding National U at 4:30 p.m.
Newly-hired shot-callers Chito Victolero and Jamike Jarin, meanwhile, return to the collegiate scene as Mapua and Lyceum raise the curtains at 12 p.m. at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
READ: Victolero, Jarin mark NCAA return via Filoil Preseason
Everyone's eyes will be on the Fighting Maroons, now armed with Veejay Pre, James Payosing, and Rainer Maga, as the Diliman crew tries to upend the Growling Tigers, who will still parade Collins Akowe, Gelo Crisostomo, and Amiel Acido.
On the other hand, Mason Amos and Jacob Cortez are pressured to keep the Green Archers at the top, as they brace for the challenge of the PJ Palacielo-led Bulldogs in this tilt which has Hanes, Buffalo's Wings N Things, Wallem, BDO, Akari, Smart, Molten, Reyes Barbecue, Nature's Spring, Tela.com Athletics, Brothers Burger, and Don Benito's as sponsors.
Meanwhile, Victolero is trotting out an essentially new Cardinals outfit with rookie Froilan Reyes joining holdovers Ivan Lazarte and Yam Concepcion.
But awaiting them are Jarin's Pirates, who are welcoming back court general Mac Guadana to their fray.
The 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive will be broadcast live and free on PusoP.com.
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