MANILA -- The FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup will tip off its 13th staging with two blockbuster college games at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Sunday.
The De La Salle Green Archers and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers will face off at 2 p.m., while the San Beda Red Lions will take on the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the nightcap at 4 p.m.
Coach Aldin Ayo will once again battle his former team as he will lead UST against rebuilding La Salle, featuring new head coach Jermaine Byrd.
On the other hand, San Beda, the reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, will collide with last University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) runner-up UP, which will parade transfer students Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero in what could be its most talented roster ever.
A total of 16 teams from the NCAA, the UAAP, and the Universities and Colleges Basketball League will vie for the coveted preseason championship this year.
The junior division will start the following day as long-time NCAA rivals Malayan Red Robins and San Beda Red Cubs will face off at 10 a.m. and the La Salle Greenhills Greenies and the FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws will slug it out in the other high school clash at 11:45 a.m.
For this year, a grade school division was added, where schools can field in their under-11 teams.
In fact, the opening game of the tournament is an U11 game between La Salle Zobel and Xavier at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Games on Sunday
(FilOil Flying V Centre, San Juan City)
1 p.m.-La Salle Zobel vs. Xavier (U11)
2 p.m.-La Salle vs. UST (Seniors)
4 p.m.-San Beda vs. UP (Seniors) (PNA)
