MANILA, Philippines - Adamson and Mapua make their debut at 3 p.m. today, both hoping to register a win at each other’s expense at the resumption of the 2010 Filoil Flying V Tanduay First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Falcons, who lost key players Leo Canuday, Aldrin Margallo and Allan Santos to graduation, hope to get quality minutes from veteran Jan Colina and rookies Fil-Australian Rodney Brondial, Austin Manyera of Kenya and Allan Etrone, younger brother of UE’s Gino Etrone.
Coach Leo Austria likens Brondial to Marc Pingris of Derby Llamados (formerly Purefoods) but with a better shooting touch from the outside.
“The boy is very athletic like Pingris. This will be an acid test for him,” said Austria, who is also relying on Etrone’s outside sniping to open up the defense.
The Falcons will be up against a Mapua Cardinals squad, which hardly made any changes in the post season. Veterans Allan Mangahas, Erwin Cornejo and Mark Acosta will again be at the forefront of Mapua’s offense, while promising rookie Raymart Cabrera takes care of the quarterbacking chores alongside Andrei Stevens.
In the only other seniors game slated at 5 p.m., Arellano University meets Perpetual at 5 p.m., as it likewise guns for its first win in this tournament presented by Pioneer Mighty Bond Extreme, with major sponsors Filoil Flying V, Total Phils. Inc., San Marino, Accel and Hanes, the official outfitter and also backed by Adidas, BDO, Bayo, Jimm’s Coffee, Kaspersky, Zest Air, Karspersky Isecure Networks, Gourmet Coffee and RX 93.1.
Like most teams, the Chiefs lost key players in Gio Ciriacruz, Rod Apostol, Jerry Miranda and Jerome Agustin, who graduated last year. Coach Junjie Ablan will have to rely on several new faces, led by Vergel Zulueta, a transferee from San Sebastian.
The UPHDS Altas are also parading a new squad, now led by former PCU Dolphin Marlon Gomez and the high-scoring Paul Nuilan, who showed his mettle in the recent Fr. Martin’s Cup.
Hostilities actually begin with the opening games of the Badolato Cup juniors tournament, with the UST Baby Tigers taking on the UE Pages of coach Mark Herrera at 9 a.m., the UPHDS Altalettes battling the National University Bullpups at 11 a.m., and the FEU Baby Tamaraws tackling the RP Youth U-13 squad also coached by Herrera.
Tickets for today’s games are available thru Ticketnet at 911-5555 or at the Filoil Flying V Arena gates.