FEU plays UE in Freego Cup

Games tomorrow (Buddhacare gym, Q.C.)

10:30 a.m. – JRU vs NU

12:30 p.m. – Perpetual vs Mapua

2 p.m. – Ateneo vs CKSC

3:30 p.m. – FEU vs UE

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP champion Far Eastern University will be without star guard Jerie Pingoy when it opens its title-retention bid against University of the East tomorrow in the sixth FCBL-Freego Cup at the Philippine Buddhacare gym in Quezon City.

Pingoy, the biggest star to come out of FEU high school team since Johnny Abarrientos, has already graduated from the Diliman-based school and is now with Ateneo. 

But even without the back-to-back UAAP MVP, FEU is still considered as one of the teams to beat in the nine-team tournament presented by Freego (Jeanius Freego since 1983) along with National University, Chiang Kai Shek College, University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo.

The Baby Tamaraws hope to start out strong against the UE Junior Warriors, one of the two newcomers in the annual pre-season high school tournament, at 3:30 p.m. 

The NU Bullpups and the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, meanwhile, kick off hostilities at 10:30 a.m. before University of Perpetual Help collides with Mapua 12:30 p.m. 

Chiang Kai Shek College and Ateneo meet at 2 p.m. in an early clash of the favorites in the tournament supported by Smart, Fresh Gear, Colt Commercial, Powerbest Mrkg. Inc., Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Hapee Toothpaste and Insular Square of Cebu.

Expected to grace the simple opening ceremony of the league founded in 1985 by Lolita Tanlo and Arthur Tanlo are Nelson Chan and Edward Tio, bosses of Einsco Co., maker of Freego jeans and shirts.