Tough Filoil Preseason cast assured

A complete cast of UAAP and NCAA teams led by champions La Salle and San Beda will serve up competitive summer action in the 2017 Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup slated April 29-June 25.

Reigning UAAP kings Green Archers, also the tournament’s defending titlists, and NCAA boss Red Lions, will banner a stacked Group A that includes UAAP runnerup Ateneo, Jose Rizal, Letran, Lyceum, Perpetual, University of the East, and Santo Tomas.

NCAA and 2016 Filoil second-placer Arellano Chiefs, meanwhile, will head the field in Group B, where UAAP semifinalists Adamson and Far Eastern, St. Benilde, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Mapua, National U, San Sebastian and University of the Philippines are also raring to impress.

The teams will play a single round robin elimination phase with the top 4 squads in each group advancing to the knockout quarterfinals.

The tournament’s juniors’ division, meanwhile, will showcase the top six schools from the UAAP and NCAA.

UAAP holder FEU-Diliman Baby Tams and NCAA counterpart Mapua-Malayan Red Robins will lead competitors in Group B with Adamson, Arellano, UST and UPIS out to provide challenge.

2016 Filoil winner San Beda will have Ateneo, La Salle Greenhills, Letran, Lyceum, and NU as bracketmates in Group A.

The 2017 edition, which is once again expected to test the team’s competitiveness ahead of the coming collegiate wars, had its press launch yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Present were tournament director Joey Guillermo with head commissioner Ato Badolato, seniors commissioners Pepe Sanchez and Aric del Rosario, and junior commissioner Bert dela Rosa along with members of the coaching staff of the participating teams, who all look forward to highly competitive matches.