FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup bares sked

Collegiate hoops begins its comeback on April 14, when the UAAP four-peat champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and the NCAA back-to-back titlists San Beda College Red Lions figure in the opening day of the 2012 FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup.   The schedule, released first online on the collegiate hoops website Inboundpass, has Ateneo taking on Kevin Alas and the rest of the Letran Knights in the first game of the 2012 incarnation of the tournament at 2 p.m., San Beda battling a Jeron Teng-reinforced La Salle Green Archers at 4 p.m., and the JRU Heavy Bombers clashing against the NU Bulldogs at 6 p.m., after a 1 p.m. opening ceremony on April 14, at the San Juan Arena.   One of the most notable features of the tourney is the fact that UAAP teams go up against NCAA squads, and this year is no exception, with all 18 colleges and universities from the two leagues participating.   Divided into two divisions of nine teams each, Group A has Ateneo, La Salle, Letran, San Beda, the Mapua Cardinals, the University of Perpetual Help Altas, the UE Red Warriors, the UP Fighting Maroons and the UST Growling Tigers. Group B meanwhile features NU, JRU, the Adamson University Falcons, the Arellano University Chiefs, the EAC Generals, the FEU Tamaraws, the Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates, and San Sebastian College Golden Stags, and the College of St. Benilde Blazers.   Each team will play against all of their groupmates, with the four squads with the best record in each division advancing to a single elimination, cross-over bracket to the Finals.   Like in the two mother leagues, only one foreign player per team may be on the court at a certain time. But in contrast to last season, only players eligible to be fielded in the upcoming UAAP or NCAA season can be added to the roster, disqualifying players who have just begun their residency period.   The Blue Eagles notched their first championship in the tournament last year, beating the Red Lions in the Finals, 75-56. - KBK, GMA News FilOil Schedule - April 4, 2012