FEU, CEU, NU look to stay unbeaten in Filoil cagefest

MANILA, Philippines – A trio of unbeaten teams look to keep their slate blemish free when they take on separate opponents Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the San Juan Arena.

Group B pace setters Far Eastern University Tamaraws who stand at 4-0, battle the 1-2 St. Clare College Saints at 12:30 p.m. The Saints notched their first win in their first stint in the country’s preeminent pre-season college basketball tournament by taking down the recent Seaba gold medalists, RP Youth Under-18, 111-99. The nationals dropped to 0-3.

FEU head coach Nash Racela hopes that forward-center Russell Escoto continues his return to form after recuperating from a knee injury last season.

“He is important to our plans,” bared Racela, who is in his second year with the Morayta-based squad. “We don’t want to rush him. If he can regain his old form he will help us in our options and our rotation as we do not have too many bigs to count on.”

Group C leaders, Centro Escolar University, who survived a potential game-winning triple attempt by UP’s JR Gallarza, to go to 3-0 tangle with winless Holy Trinity College in the 2:15 p.m. match.

According to CEU Scorpions head coach Edgar Macaraya, his wards have been playing continuously in the PBA D-League (as Café France), the Fr. Martin’s Cup, and the Filoil tournament leaving his team tired and short of breath.

“But no excuses,” offered Macaraya. “We were bent on doing this as part of our preparations.”

Also in Group C action, the National University Bulldogs, who opened their Filoil campaign with a 106-67 thrashing of HTC Wildcats last week, take on a San Sebastian Stags team that is at an even 2-2 in the summer tourney at 4 p.m.

“We showed good form in our opening win,” said NU head coach Eric Altamirano. “The challenge is to sustain that and to get our bench to contribute consistently.”

Altamirano is missing vital cogs from NU’s campaign like Ray Parks, Jean Me, Dennice Villamor, and Robin Roño to name a few. Glenn Khobuntin, Gelo Alolino, Troy Rosario and Alfred Aroga now lead the Bulldogs.

The Stags arrested a two-game slide with a win also at the expense of the HTC Wildcats. San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson bared that if he can get some wins in Filoil then it’s good.

“What is important for me is to give the younger players their minutes so they get a taste of big time competition. That will prepare use for the NCAA,” explained Robinson.

Completing the Filoil Friday quintuple-header is the women’s match at 10:45am between FEU and UE and the juniors tussle in the nightcap at 5:45 p.m. between San Beda and De La Salle Zobel.