Statement on UP's pullout from the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup

Here is the statement from the league re: UP not participating in the quarterfinals and onwards next week. 

Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup officials announced the pullout of the University of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Team for the remainder of the tournament.

In a joint statement with UP team officials, the matter was clarified for all fans, media, teams participating in the competition, and the league organizers.

“It is with regret that we announce the pulling out of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the quarterfinals stage of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.”

Prior to the start of the tournament, we made plans on training abroad in the United States,” clarified head coach Bo Perasol. “Our training abroad was contingent upon our securing visas for our players of which there was no guarantee. As a team, we agreed that if we cannot be complete in our training abroad, we will not go at all."

“Since we have competed every year in the Filoil flying V Preseason Cup, we went ahead and took part. We received the approval of the approval of all our players the same week as we played our final match of the elimination round of Filoil against UST prompting us to scramble for our plans in training abroad.”

“The window for our training is small and unfortunately, it ran across the same time as the quarterfinals and onwards of the tournament.”

“We regret pulling out and promise to make this up in future Filoil Flying V Preseason Cups.”

“We deeply apologize to the fans, the media, the other teams in participating in the tournament, and most especially to the organizers of this wonderful tournament.”

The Centro Escolar University Scorpions, who finished fifth in Group A of the two division men’s basketball competition will take their place.

The quarterfinals tips off on Monday, June 17, 2019, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup set for 13th season

The premier preseason tournament for collegiate basketball is set to kick off its 13th season this Sunday.

The Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup is set to commence with a triple-header at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, highlighted by a pair of interesting collegiate match-ups.

At 2pm, new-look La Salle will be taking to the floor against a souped up University of Santo Tomas, which will then be followed by defending NCAA champions San Beda facing last season's losing finalists in the UAAP, the University of the Philippines.

All ten NCAA schools and six of the eight UAAP schools are set to participate in the seniors division, with both Ateneo de Manila and the University of the East citing their overseas training as the reason for their non-participation. The defending Preseason Cup champions will be unable to conduct their title defense due to the upcoming Jones Cup campaign.

Serving as the curtain-raiser at 11am is a new initiative by the league, a 11-under division composed of ten teams. Opening that specific tournament is a matchup between La Salle-Zobel and Xavier.

The high school division starts the next day, May 6, with two matches: Mapua/Malayan faces off against San Beda at 10am, followed by La Salle-Greenhills against Far Eastern University. Twelve squads will duke it out, led by the defending UAAP champions, Nazareth-NU. They will kick off against La Salle-Greenhills in a rematch of the NBTC National Finals.

The league is also bringing back one of its major side events from last year, the Hanes 1-on-1 tournament. CSB's Prince Carlos was the inaugural winner, and could potentially return for a title defense.

In addition, there will be an All-Star Game scheduled on the end of the month, with the best of the UAAP going up against the best of the NCAA. Tournament Director Joey Guillermo hinted in using social media to help determine who will be starting for each team, with the coaches set to fill out the rest of their respective All-Star squads.

Overall Tournament Commissioner Ato Badolato shares, "Every year, there is much anticipation for the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup because this is the tournament where teams can only field their actual line-ups for the upcoming NCAA and UAAP seasons,” pointed out over-all tournament commissioner Edmundo “Ato” Badolato. “There are new rookies, players who switch teams, newly-appointed coaches, and this year, this is last we will see of foreign players in the NCAA. Maybe for some, it will be emotional."

Sports5 has secured broadcast rights and will be showing select matches on their social media accounts, as well as on 5Plus.

Tickets for the matches can be purchased either at the gate or via Ticketnet.

For more information about the 13th Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, one can check out their official Facebook page (Filoil Flying V Sports).

San Beda set to make Filoil preseason debut

Today's action at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan is highlighted by the season debut of the San Beda Red Lions.

Last season's NCAA losing finalists are set to face the University of the East in the third game of a quintiple-header scheduled from morning and end at night.

Jamike Jarin will have to deal with the departures of Ola Adeogun, Art dela Cruz, and Baser Amer, as he and the rest of his coaching staff will try to pick up the pieces with a younger and smaller lineup.

In addressing the roster attrition, the Red Lions will look at holdovers Ranbill Tongco, Javee Mocon, Donald Tankoua, AC Soberano, and newly-minted team captain Dan Sara to lead the team. New faces Robert Bolick, Davon Potts, Arnaud Noah, and Calvin Ofpana add athleticism and depth to the side, which is set to continue with Jarin's pressing style.

Red Lions team manager Jude Roque noted that the coaching staff plans to utilize anywhere from 12-13 players per match given their style of play. “It will be a spread out offense with the team on the floor based on match-ups and need. You won’t find a designated scorer because in what we want, anyone can shoot as the play dictates it."

Serving as their first opposition is a deadly UE side that defeated Lyceum in its latest outing, 91-75, last May 11.

Trailing by 5 at the break, the Red Warriors unleashed a second-half barrage on the Pirates anchored on their press defense. Forcing 19 turnovers for 27 points, Derrick Pumaren's crack unit rattled Topex Robinson's backcourt combination of Jesper Ayaay, Dexter Zamora, Shaq Alanes, and Edcor Marata into 14 of those turnovers. Alvin Pasaol led UE with 17 points.

Following this all-Red matchup is La Salle attempting to remain unbeaten in their face-off against Mapua Cardinals. The retooled Green Archers are seeking their third straight win in the tournament, as they try to keep up with fellow undefeated side Perpetual. The other collegiate matchup sees Adamson and Letran try to secure their second win in this tournament at 130pm.

In high school action, La Salle-Zobel makes their tournament debut in the opening match of the day against Lyceum at 1115am.

UAAP Season 78's losing finalists will have to deal with the departure of key guys Aljun Melecio, Marco Sario, and Brent Paraiso, as they go up against the Junior Pirates of head coach LA Mumar.

Capping the quintple-header is the matchup of EAC-ICA against La Salle-Greenhills at 645pm.