MANILA, Philippines - Sensational high school standout Arvie Bringas debuts in green uniform when De La Salle University faces archrival Ateneo de Manila in their much-awaited return engagement in the opener of the 2009 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena (formerly The Arena) in San Juan City.
Bringas’ odyssey to the Green Archers’ camp ended months of speculations of his preferred school, as La Salle, which placed runner-up to Ateneo in last year’s UAAP, makes a serious bid to snatch the title in the premiere pre-season league set to open on April 18.
La Salle and Ateneo clash in the 4 p.m. match after the equally exciting faceoff between last year’s Filoil Flying V tournament runner-up and reigning NCAA champion San Beda College and multi-titled Letran College at 2 p.m.
The UP Maroons and Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers cap the day when they collide at 6:30 p.m in the three-month long tournament backed by Adidas, Total Phils., Inc., SMART Sports, CDO, Pioneer Insurance, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Filoil, Flying V, Astaro/Karspersky, Douwe Egberts, Brothers Burger, Shell, Gourmet Coffee, Cecon/Surbex, Kolin/Syntax, The Philippine Star, Standard Chartered, Jaycees, V-Star, V-8, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Insular.
Bringas, together with mainstays Maui Villanueva, Joshua Webb, Peejay Barua, Hyram Bagatsing, James Mangahas, Bader Malabes and LA Revilla, headlines a La Salle team which also boasts of five former RP Youth players against an intact Ateneo team brimming with talent from last year’s championship.
With only Chris Tiu and Yuri Escueta gone from the line-up, the Blue Eagles remain a formidable opponent at the paint with the presence of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nico Salva, Kirk Long and Justin Chua and open-court specialists Jai Reyes, Michael Baldos, Eric Salamat, Raymond Austria and former juniors MVP Juami Tiongson.
There’s also Ryan Buenafe, Bringas’ teammate in the San Sebastian Stags’ title run in the juniors, who will go up against his former teammate in a highly anticipated duel.
The Red Lions, meanwhile, will parade a big addition to their lineup in Sudan Daniels, who is tapped to fill the gap left by former MVP Sam Ekwe.
Daniels, a lean 6-7 center, will pose some problems for the Knights, who will rely on their trademark pressing defense and run-and-gun game to neutralize the Lions’ edge at the paint.
Meanwhile, the La Salle-Ateneo opener will be aired over IBC Channel 13 at 7-9 p.m. while the opening ceremony and the La Salle-Ateneo match will be shown at the Makisig Channel at 5-9 p.m.