MANILA, Philippines - University of the East and San Sebastian square off while San Beda and Far Eastern U collide in a pair of Final Four duels today in the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Warriors, seeking a second straight championship in the pre-season tournament among the top varsity teams in the land, battle the Stags in the 4 p.m. opener, while the Red Lions, last year’s runner-up, mixed it up with the fancied Tamaraws in the 6 p.m. main game.
UE defeated Mapua, 85-78, to gain the first berth in the semis while SSC, San Bed and FEU followed suit to complete the cast of two teams each from rival leagues UAAP and NCAA.
The Stags, now mentored by ex-pro Ato Agustin, had a surprisingly easy time against Adamson, scoring an 82-69 victory to set up a clash with the Warriors, the first team to advance to the semis.
The Tamaraws, meanwhile, leaned on their vaunted defense and a 25-point explosion from national team mainstay Mark Barroca to turn back the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 76-61, and arrange a duel with the Red Lions, who also trounced the La Salle Archers, 70-49.
San Beda outgunned the Archers in a big fourth quarter explosion, scoring 22 points while limiting La Salle to just five points en route to the lopsided win.
The Stags-Warriors is expected to be close with both teams raring to outgun each other with their run-and-gun games.
The Tams-Red Lions tiff is also tipped to be tough with both teams putting premium on defense.
Meanwhile, tickets for today’s games are available at the Ticketnet at tel. 911-5555 and at the Filoil Flying V Arena gates.
The event is backed by Adidas, Total Phils., Inc., Smart Sports, CDO, Pioneer Insurance, The Philippine STAR, Manila Standard Today, Business Mirror, RX 93.1, Filoil, Inquirer, Flying V, Astaro/Karspersky, Douwe Egberts, Brothers Burger, Shell, Gourmet Coffee, SIFE, 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.