Ateneo de Manila University will not be participating in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, which tips off on May 18 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Blue Eagles instead will embark on overseas training camps and competitions.
Ateneo, coming off its worst finish in the UAAP in school history, will spend two weeks in Spain this June before heading to Taiwan in July.
The Blue Eagles will be using this period to blend in their new one-and-done recruits Kymani Ladi, Dominic Escobar, and Jaden Lazo, along with promising big man Divine Adili.
On the other hand, University of the Philippines is setting its sights on a rare ‘three-peat’ as it leads the cast of 17 teams.
But accomplishing that isn’t that easy for UP, all the more with coach Goldwin Monteverde losing key cogs from last year’s title drive.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Rey Remogat joins forces with Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres as they try to keep the maroon ship afloat following the departures of Francis Lopez, JD Cagulangan, and Quentin Millora-Brown.
(C) UCAL
Rival La Salle is just as hungry, with coach Topex Robinson trotting out a rejigged crew bannered by transferees Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, and Luis Pablo for this redemption tour.
University of Santo Tomas, led by Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao, as well as Adamson, Far Eastern University, University of the East, and National University, complete the UAAP Group as teams play a single round robin format with only the top four teams advancing.
Not to be outdone is the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball champion Mapua, which will still be leaning on the leadership of Clint Escamis.
Giving the Cardinals a run for their money in the NCAA Group are nemesis Benilde, alongside San Beda and Lyceum.
Rounding out the field are Emilio Aguinaldo College, Letran, Arellano, Perpetual, San Sebastian, and Jose Rizal University.
The top four teams from each group progress in a crossover quarterfinals, with the victors advancing to the knockout semifinals, and finally, a best-of-three championship series.
Chairman Virgil Villavicencio, commissioners Joe Lipa and Bert dela Rosa, tournament director Bennett Palad, and marketing and finance head Diana Layug will once again lead the summer cage tilt at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup also has Playtime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
