DLSU, UP, UST clash with NCAA counterparts in FilOil Preseason Cup quarterfinals

WORLDS collide on Friday, July 11, as the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive heads to the playoffs beginning with the crossover quarterfinals.

UAAP top seed La Salle will be tested by surprise NCAA no. 4 Arellano in the main event at 4 p.m., while UAAP no. 2 University of Santo Tomas braces for a testy battle against NCAA no. 3 Emilio Aguinaldo College at 2 p.m.

University of the Philippines, seeking a third straight preseason crown an in the hunt for the ECJ Perpetual Trophy, raises the curtains at 10 a.m. against NCAA no. 2 St. Benilde, while NCAA leader Letran takes on UAAP no. 4 National University at 12 p.m., all at PlayTime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

It’s expected to be another loaded quadruple-header as this tilt, which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, Spalding as official game ball, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors, hits fever pitch with the top eight teams left standing.

Undefeated through six games, the Green Archers want to continue to flex their muscles especially with how new recruits Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, and Luis Pablo have paired up with the holdovers led by Mike Phillips. But the Chiefs have proven to be a dangerous draw especially with Maverick Vinoya and T-Mc Ongotan leading the way.

Nic Cabañero, Forthsky Padrigao, and Gelo Crisostomo also want to deliver a strong statement especially with the Growling Tigers’ burgeoning UAAP championship aspirations for the upcoming season, but before they do, they will be tested by the highly physical Generals which has Wilmar Oftana, Nico Quinal, and Kyle Ochavo serving as torchbearers.

It’s also going to be a big test for the Blazers, buoyed by Allen Liwag and Shawn Umali, as they prove themselves to be for real this coming NCAA season by trying to take down the mighty Fighting Maroons, which have relied on old reliables Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, and Terrence Fortea.

And of course, the duo of Titing Manalili and Jimboy Estrada will shoulder the load for the Knights as they try to negate the prowess of the Bulldogs backcourt of Steve Nash Enriquez and Reinhard Jumamoy.

Tickets are available at the PlayTime Filoil Centre and online at Ticketnet, while games are livestreamed on Facebook at the Filoil EcoOil Sports and Smart Sports pages.