THE Gilas Cadets test the mettle of a young, talented and hungry National University (NU) side in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Although the Bulldogs of second year Head Coach Jamike Jarin sport a slightly better record at 1-3 won-lost as opposed to the Cadets’ 1-4, NU has more or less gotten the system and plays as a team.
“We haven’t really had a complete line-up,” underscored national Coach Jong Uichico. “Many of the players are still with their mother teams—school teams. We’ve had players taking on roles they are unfamiliar with.”
Nevertheless, the young nationals have their work cut out for them when they battle NU at 7 p.m.
Undefeated Far Eastern University (FEU) and College of Saint Benilde (CSB), meanwhile, part ways when they collide at 12:30 p.m.
FEU is 3-0, while a much-improved CSB side is at 2-0. FEU has a veteran-laden squad led by Jasper Parker, Hubert Cani and their national players Arvin Tolentino and Kenneth Tuffin, while CSB has played to the beat of rapidly improving point guard Unique Naboa and veterans Yankee Haruna and Clement Leutcheu.
Winless squads Jose Rizal University (0-3) and University of Santo Tomas (0-2) take each other at 2:15 p.m.
The Hanes One-on-One King of the Hardcourt returns with Ateneo’s rookie Jason Credo squaring off with San Sebastian’s Kevin Baytan at 4 p.m.