WINNING three straight crowns will never be easy.
That’s exactly what University of the Philippines is learning in its drive for the ECJ Perpetual Trophy in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive.
Incurring back-to-back losses in the premier preseason tournament, the Fighting Maroons are understanding how big really is the target on their backs with rivals bringing their best every single game.
Now, UP will try to avoid falling to its third straight game as it duels against Far Eastern University today at The Arena in San Juan.
Harold Alarcon and Terrence Fortea will be hardpressed to lead the Diliman side back to their winning ways before the reigning UAAP champions go to Serbia for their offseason training.
But doing so won’t be easy, especially with the Tamaraws also riding the wave of momentum as they sport a 2-0 record following a 72-63 win over UST last June 2 behind Jorick Bautista and Mo Konateh.
The UAAP duel will serve as the main game at 4 p.m. in the Independence Day quadruple-header in the tilt which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
Emilio Aguinaldo College (2-1) and Mapua (2-1) part ways at 10 a.m., followed by NCAA league leader CSB (4-0) taking on minnow San Sebastian (0-4) at 12 p.m., and Perpetual (1-1) facing off against Letran (3-1) at 2 p.m.
Clint Escamis and the rest of the Cardinals are seeking to extend their win streak to three, while the Generals want to bounce back after getting dealt with an 81-72 loss to the Knights.
The Blazers, on the other hand, is determined to continue their dominant form against a young Golden Stags side, as the Knights, leaning on the trio of Jimboy Estrada, Jun Roque, and Titing Manalili, shoot for back-to-back wins versus the Patrick Sleat-led Altas.
