Eagles face Lions in Homegrown Cup opener

A three-game bill, featuring San Beda against Ateneo, ushers in the Filoil-Flying V Homegrown Invitational Cup today at the Philsports Arena.

NCAA defending champion Red Lions and the 2006 UAAP finalist Blue Eagles clash at 2 p.m. after a brief opening ceremony where telecommunications mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, alumnus of both San Beda and Ateneo, is the guest speaker.

At 4 p.m., the Letran Knights battle the comebacking De La Salle Green Archers, while the San Sebastian Stags take on reigning UAAP champion Santo Tomas U Growling Tigers at 6 p.m.

Bracketed in Group A are Ateneo, Letran, Far Eastern, Jose Rizal and UST. In Group B are La Salle, San Beda, SSC, University of the East and University of the Philippines.

Backed by Millennium Plans, Gerry’s Grill, Studio 23, UABS Car Rental Services, RJ 100, Pepsi, Franz Burger and Filpride-USA 88, ACCEL Sports and Nescafe, the tournament will employ a crossover elimination round format where teams from one group face teams from the other once, completing four games apiece.

The top two teams from each group clash in an inter-group semifinal, with the winners disputing the championship worth P100,000. Second place gets P60,000 and third P40,000.

Leading the Red Lions are 6-7 Nigerian center Sam Ekwe and Yousif Aljamal, while high-leaping JC Intal and forward Doug Kramer power the Blue Eagles.

Fiel Dino Daa banners the Knights, while the Green Archers will rely on Ty Tang, JC Casio and Rico Maierhofer.

Mark Borboran leads the Red Warriors, while the Growling Tigers will hear it from Joselito Duncil.