FilOil preseason tourney expands field anew, adds more non-UAAP/NCAA teams

The Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup has focused its attention on development by including the world championship-bound Philippine Under-17 squad and more teams outside the UAAP and the NCAA, in this year’s edition, set to open on April 26.

Tournament director Joey Guillermo said the Philippine Under-17 boys basketball squad will see action in the preseason event as part of their preparation for the FIBA Under-17 World Championship from August 8 to 16 in Dubai.

In an effort to become more than just a preseason tournament for the teams of the UAAP and NCAA, Guillermo said they are giving other schools a chance to develop their teams and have invited Cebu-based squads Southwestern University, University of San Carlos and University of Visayas, and Holy Trinity of General Santos City.

So far, USC and Holy Trinity have confirmed participation as the league awaits the response of UV and SWU, which also competed in last year’s Filoil Cup.

Guillermo said NAASCU side Centro Escolar University is also looking to join the tournament.

“This is the first test of really inviting the other schools. If this is successful, eventually we might expand every year to develop other teams,” said Guillermo, following Thursday’s coaches’ meeting at the Brothers Burger Meralco Avenue branch.

Twenty-one schools including seven teams from the UAAP led by defending champion University of the East, and nine from the NCAA, are included in the initial list of participants in the preseason tournament. - Reuben Terrado, SPIN


Initial lineup of teams: