FilOil preseason tourney unveils new three-group format  

The FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup unveiled a new three-group format for the men’s division on Wednesday via press release, to accommodate the league’s expansion to 21 teams.

Group A has the Letran Knights, the DLSU Green Archers, the San Beda Red Lions, the Southwestern University Cobras, the UE Red Warriors, the University of San Carlos Warriors, and the University of Visayas Green Lancers.

Group B features the EAC Generals, the FEU Tamaraws, the Lyceum Pirates, the Mapua Cardinals, the Perpetual Help Altas, the St. Clare Saints, and the RP Youth U18 team.

Group C meanwhile is bannered by the NU Bulldogs, the San Sebastian Stags, the CEU Scorpions, the JRU Heavy Bombers, the CSB Blazers, the Holy Trinity University Wildcats, and the UP Fighting Maroons.

The elimination round is a single round-robin with teams playing their groupmates. The best two squads per group, along with the two best third placers based on quotient, will advance to the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, the eight squads are ranked based on their win-loss records, with the quotient system as tie-breaker, before being paired with 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5.

Come the semifinals, the winner of 1 vs 8 faces off against the winner of 4 vs 5, while the winner of 2 vs 7 tackles the victor in 3 vs 6. Those that emerge go to the one-game final for the championship.

For the two-group women’s division, the top two teams of each group proceed to the knockout crossover semis, which is the same format for the two-group juniors division. - AMD, GMA News