FROM 19 teams, the competition is now down to the last eight.
After two months of grueling competition in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, the last teams standing battle it out in a win-or-go-home scenario in the quarterfinals and onwards beginning today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The surprising College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers who topped Group B with a 7-1 record take on the Group A fourth seed University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 1 p.m. at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
CSB will have its hands full against UP that rebounded from three straight losses to open its Filoil account with six straight wins.
Along with undefeated Ateneo, UP is one of the hottest squads heading into the quarterfinals.
In the 2:45 p.m. game, defending champion San Beda University faces a tall and deep Adamson University.
The Red Lions’ late charge in the standings saw them pull the De La Salle Green Archers down from the second seed despite finishing with similar 7-2 cards. San Beda earned the No. 2 seed when it defeated De La Salle, 72-70.
Adamson University, on the other hand, had the opportunity to take the top seed of Group B going into the last day of the elimination round. But CSB’s comeback win over San Sebastian rendered everything moot and academic.
De La Salle will face off against heated rival Far Eastern University in the 4 p.m. match.
The Green Archers have a potent mix of highly experienced veterans and talented newcomers. They will match wits and skill against a veteran FEU team that is loaded for bear.
In the 7 p.m. nightcap, Ateneo stakes its unbeaten 9-0 record against dangerous Letran that finished Group B competition with a 5-3 slate. The Knights have the league’s leading scorer in Bong Quinto who is averaging 20 points a game.
While the Blue Eagles rule almost every statistical category on offense as well as defense, they are arriving from a European camp and jetlag and tiredness will be a concern.
The winners today will vie in the semifinals tomorrow.