ATENEO opens a brand new chapter when it makes its much awaited debut at the 2023 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Wednesday.
And it couldn’t have come against a better foe than rival University of the Philippines (UP).
The protagonists of the last two University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Finals run it back in the 4 p.m. main event as both the Blue Eagles and Fighting Maroons size each other up in the premier preseason league.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin finally parades Gilas Pilipinas big man Mason Amos as he links up with teammates Kai Ballungay, Forthsky Padrigao and Paul Garcia.
But they’ll be bracing for a motivated UP side which has dropped its last two games, the last of which was a tough 90-83 loss to De La Salle last Saturday.
Malick Diouf, CJ Cansin, and Lebron Lopez surely would want to get back to their winning ways in Group II and how sweet it would be to do so against the defending UAAP champion.
In the other games, undefeated De La Salle (6-0) try to close in on a quarterfinal spot against hapless Faith Colleges of Batangas (0-4) at 2 p.m. in this league sponsored by Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Akari, BDO, Reyes BBQ, Kalos Sportswear and Molten.
National Collegiate Athletic Association rivals open the quadruple-header with Lyceum of the Philippines University (2-2) colliding with Arellano University (0-3) at 10 a.m., and University of the East (2-3) locking horns with National University (1-1) at 12 p.m.