CEU, NU battle for Filoil lead

MANILA, Philippines – Unbeaten Centro Escolar University and National University battle for the lead in Group C of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the San Juan Arena on May 21.

The CEU Scorpions, the surprise leaders currently with a 4-0 slate, take on the 3-0 NU Bulldogs, who have lost only one match in the last three years of the summer competition, at 12:30 p.m.

CEU, the defending NAASCU champions, is led by Rodrigue Ebondo, Mon Abundo, Alfred Batino, and Joseph Sedurifa while NU has old reliables Gelo Alolino, Troy Rosario, Glenn Khobuntin and Alfred Aroga.

“Even if they lost a lot of players and Ray Parks, NU is still a very good team,” noted CEU head coach Edgar Macaraya. “They are a difficult match-up because they can play you in a running game or a half court game. We can only try to do our best.”

In our Filoil matches, St. Clare (1-4) and Letran (1-2) battle in the 2:15 p.m. match while Perpetual Help (3-1) and Jose Rizal University (3-2) try to inch closer to a quarterfinals berth in the 4 p.m. tussle. Both squads are coming off loses and a win will give them an opportunity to advance especially with Southwestern University, La Salle, and University of the East still in the playoff picture.

In other Filoil action, the UP Lady Maroons face off against the UE Amazons at 10:45 a.m. while the Juniors squads of NU and Ateneo, UAAP Finals protagonists last season, renew their rivalry in the 5:45 p.m. nightcap.

Tickets to the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup are available at SM TicketNet outlets and at the game venue.

The preseason collegiate basketball tournament is sponsored by Flying V, Filoil, Total, Hanes, San Miguel Corporation, Starmobile, Timex, Silverworks, Gatorade, LGR, Meralco, BDO, Reyes Barbecue, Douwe Egberts, NLEX, Gerry’s Grill, Brothers Burger, Molten, Bayo, Oxycan, BPI, PBCom, San Marino, Red Logo and Bacchus Energy Drink.