Warriors gun for fifth win vs skidding Archers

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion University of the East takes on a slumping La Salle side while St. Benilde tries to keep its slim quarterfinal hopes alive against San Sebastian in the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan today.

The Warriors and the Archers clash at 3:30 p.m. with the former looking for their fifth win in six games and the latter out to snap their back-to-back setbacks and get back into the winning track.

The Blazers, on the other hand, seek their third win against four setbacks as they try to stay in the fight for one of the quarterfinal berths against the Stags, who are already qualified with a 5-1 mark in Group A.

La Salle racked up three straight wins but bowed to San Sebastian, 59-73, and absorbed a 65-83 beating from Adamson after returning from a three-week training in the US.

National U takes on UP in the 12 noon opener of a triplebill in the tournament backed by Adidas, Total Phils., Inc., Smart Sports, CDO, Pioneer Insurance, The Philippine Star, Filoil, Flying V, Inquirer, Astaro/Karspersky, Douwe Egberts, Brothers Burger, Shell, Gourmet Coffee, Cecon/Surbex, Kolin/Syntax, Standard Chartered, DMCI Homes, Jaycees, V-Star, V-8, Tamayo’s Restaurant, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Molten, the official ball, Insular, Channel V and Makisig Channel, the league’s official television coveror.