Ateneo aims for fifth Filoil win vs Letran

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo tries to firm up its lead in Group A as it goes for its fifth win in six games against Letran even as National U debuts against Jose Rizal University in the Filoil Flying V Tanduay Pre-Season Invitational Cup at the Flying V Arena in San Juan City today.

Eric Salamat, who shot 15 points against the UP Maroons last week, is expected to lead the Eagles’ bid against the Knights along with Nico Salva, Kirk Long and John Paul Erram, who had four blocks against the Maroons.

Letran, which pulled off an 84-83 win over Arellano last week, will be led by Jam Cortes and Kevin Alas as it shoots for its second win in three starts.

Ateneo and Letran clash in the 5 p.m. main game after the Jose Rizal U-National U faceoff at 3 p.m.

The RP Youth U-18 team, meanwhile, battles University of the East in the 1 p.m. opener of the seniors matches, looking for its third win in four games in the tournament presented by Mighty Bond Extreme, with major sponsors Total Phils. Corp., San Marino Corned Tuna, Accel, Filoil Gas Company, Flying V and Hanes brands, the official outfitter.

In junior play, UST squares off with Arellano at 9 a.m. while the RP Youth Under-13 and Letran tangle in the other match at 11 a.m.

The Tiger Cubs, who lost to the UE Junior Warriors and the SSC Golden Staglets before outlasting La Salle-Greenhills, hope to draw solid games from JP Sarcia, EJ Corre and RP Youth mainstay Kevin Ferrer as they try to even their card to 2-2 in Group C.