MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from an opening-day victory against no less than its archrival Ateneo, De La Salle University faces University of the Philippines at the resumption of the 2009 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Cup today at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Coach Franz Pumaren described his team as “probably 10 percent better” than the Eagles in terms of game-fitness for the opening game of the country’s premiere pre-season league, as the Archers needed a late surge to carve out a 67-65 decision against their rivals in last Saturday’s opener.
The tournament is 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, DMCI Homes, Jaycees, V-Star, V-8, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Insular and Channel V.
Against the Maroons, though, La Salle is expected to take it easy and may need just a little tune-up to cruise to its second win.
The Archers and the Diliman dribblers clash at 12 noon, with UP not expected to put up big numbers judging by the way it lost to the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers, who rained treys on their foes en route to a 73-58 rout.
“I think we’re 10 percent in better shape than Ateneo right now. But I’m quite happy with the way our rookies played down the stretch,” said Pumaren, who drew clutch performances from Samuel Tolentino and Joel Marata.
Bader Malabes led the Archers with 12, including a 3-point play that sealed the match for the Archers in the final 19 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Eagles try to get back on track when they clash against NCAA squad College of St. Benilde in the 1:45 match, even as opening-day winner San Beda College also eye a second win at the expense of Mapua University at 3:30 p.m.
Clearly still struggling from a long vacation, the Eagles are expected to do a much better job against the Blazers, a team who had undergone drastic changes in their line-up and coaching staff.
This will actually be an acid test for new St. Benilde coach and ex-pro Richard del Rosario, who came in board as head coach last January. He will have his hands full as his players try to contain the powerhouse Ateneo roster led by Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao and Jai Reyes.
The Red Lions, meanwhile, battle another tough team in Mapua Cardinals, but if they continue to play true to form like they did against the Knights, they should have no problem clinching win no. 2.
After Saturday’s results, the Archers and the Red Lions share the lead with the Heavy Bombers with one win apiece in Group A, while the Eagles, the Maroons and the Letran Knights all sport 0-1 marks in Group B.