LA Salle and Far Eastern University only have the same thing in mind: Book their tickets to the crossover quarterfinals of the PlayTime Cares 18th FiloilEcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive.
The Green Archers and the Tamaraws cross paths on Friday at The Arena in San Juan with heavy playoff implications hanging in the balance.
Tip-off is at 4 p.m. in another triple-header in this tilt which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and PusoPilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
Undefeated through three games, La Salle wants to preserve its immaculate slate especially after drawing solid performances from transferees Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, and Mason Amos.
But it was actually rookie Mikey Cortez who turned heads in the Taft side’s 69-64 win over National University last June 25. With that, coach Topex Robinson is hopeful that the growth for his side continues as they remain on top of the UAAP Bracket.
The Tamaraws, however, have proven to be no pushovers and they want to bounce back after a 75-65 loss to University of the Philippines last June 12.
Expect Jorick Bautista, JanreyPasaol, and Mo Konateh to carry the fight for the Morayta side as they aim to rise up from their 3-1 record.
Adamson and NU, both carrying identical 1-3 records, will also fight for their lives when they play one another at 2 p.m.
The Soaring Falcons are coming off a 71-67 overtime win over University of the East with MattyErolon emerging as a dependable scorer for coach Nash Racela, while the Bulldogs want a big bounce back with Steve Nash Enriquez carrying the torch.
Emilio Aguinaldo College (6-1) is also jostling for position in the NCAA Bracket when it plays also-ran San Beda (2-4) in the 12 p.m. curtain raiser.
It’s a big morale boost for the Generals of coach JersonCabiltes to make it through to the next round, but the quest for improvement never stops for the likes of Wilmar Oftana, Nico Quinal, and Kyle Ochavo.
