Returning Eagles battle Red Lions

MANILA, Philippines - Back from a rigorous month-long training in the United States and Canada, the Ateneo Blue Eagles face last year’s runner-up San Beda College Red Lions in today’s featured match in the 2009 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Ateneo, which collides with San Beda in the 6 p.m. schedule, posted a 5-1 win-loss card before leaving for overseas training to trail Adamson and San Sebastian, which have identical 6-1 marks to share the lead in Group A going to tomorrow’s quarterfinal rounds.

The Red Lions, meanwhile, downed the University of the Philippines Maroons a week ago, 93-84, to improve their card to an even 3-3 in a tie with De La Salle Green Archers and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in Group B.

The Archers, who took their third straight loss at the hands of the University of the East Warriors, 74-63, take on the Letran Knights at 4 p.m, while the Warriors and the Tamaraws open today’s hostilities at 2 p.m., to complete today’s schedule in the tournament backed by Adidas, Total Phils., Inc., SMART Sports, CDO, Pioneer Insurance, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine STAR, Manila Standard Today, Business Mirror, RX 93.1, Filoil, 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.

The Eagles will once again rely on their talented frontline led by Rabeh Al-Husseini, Nonoy Baclao and Nico Salva against the smaller but speedy Red Lions roster led by JR Tecson, Jake Pascual, Garvo Lanete and the reed-thin Sudan Daniels.

The Red Lions actually face a must-win situation against the Eagles because a loss will endanger their chances for one of four spots in the quarterfinals, while the Katipunan-based dribblers are the only team in Group B assured of a spot in the next phase.

Meanwhile, today’s games (Games 2 and 3) will be aired tomorrow (Saturday, June 6) over at Makisig Channel Skycable 76 starting at 5 p.m.