Filoil Preseason Opens With Battle Of New Coaches

A battle of teams with new coaches will be the major storyline in the Fil Oil-Flying V Pre-Season Cup, which opens this Saturday at the Fil Oil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Ronnie Magsanoc, the new coach of the defending NCAA titlist San Beda Red Lions, debuts on Saturday against the De La Salle Green Archers, whose mentor will be coaching in his first game in Gee Abanilla.

Game time is set at 4 p.m. in the second game of a tripleheader.

In the first game, four-time UAAP champion and last year’s tournament winner Ateneo battles Letran at 2 p.m. right after the opening ceremonies at 1 p.m.

Bobby Ray Parks and the National University Bulldogs face the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the nightcap at 6 p.m.

It will be interesting how the Red Lions will respond to Magsanoc going into their match against the Green Archers.

Magsanoc, a former San Beda Red Cub, officially took over the team just last April 2 replacing Frankie Lim, who resigned after getting a two-year suspension from the NCAA for his role in a brawl that happened during a volleyball game last year.

Meanwhile, the tournament will mark the first time Abanilla will coach the team in a major competition. Although he was named La Salle coach last October, he didn’t coach the team during the Green Archers’ short campaign in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

The Blue Eagles will start the defense of their crown against Letran as well as their intense build-up for a fifth straight UAAP title.

The Knights might miss the services of their top scorer Kevin Alas, who is nursing an ankle injury.

source: InterAktv