Knights eye No. 2; Bombers vs Warriors

MANILA, Philippines - Early Group B leader Letran guns for its second straight win today as five other seniors squads led by University of the East and Jose Rizal University kick off their own bids in the 2011 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan.

The Knights assumed the top spot in the group with a 66-54 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Wednesday, with Kevin Alas practically doing all the damage by firing 10 in a 10-0 blast that took the fight out of the Generals.

Coach Louie Alas’ wards look to follow this up with another win in their 2:15 p.m. matchup with a University of the Philippines crew that’s raring to bounce back from a winless campaign the past UAAP season under new mentor Ricky Dandan.

Like UP, the UE Red Warriors will have a new man at the helm in ex-pro and 1985 champion team stalwart Jerry Codiñera when they debut against the JRU Heavy Bombers at 4 p.m.

“I honestly think that we have the material to be a really competitive team this year,’’ Codiñera said despite the absence of UE’s top gunner Paul Lee, who decided to waive his fifth and final year of eligibility with the school.

Sans Lee, Codiñera will lean on the holdovers of the 2010 team, led by UAAP Mythical 5 member Ken Acibar and veteran guards Paul Zamar and Lucas Tagarda.

They are up against a Vergel Meneses-mentored JRU side that’s on rebuilding process, having lost Marvin Hayes and Jay-R Bulangis to graduation and dropping Cameroonians Nchotu Njei and Joe Etame from the roster for violating team rules.

Focus will also be on the Mapua Cardinals, who will parade their touted Fil-Palestinian recruit Yousef Taha against St. Benilde at 12:30 p.m. Backstopping the 6-7 Taha are veterans Allan Mangahas and Mark Sarangay.

In the juniors division, it will be the Adamson Baby Falcons against the JRU Light Bombers at 9 a.m., followed by the UE Junior Warriors versus Perpetual Help Altalettes at 10:45 a.m.