Win or go home time! Looking at the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup quarterfinals

Looking at the Filoil quarterfinals

by rick olivares

It is win or go home time in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup. After almost two months of competition, we are down to the last eight teams.

Let’s take a look at the match-ups for the Monday, June 17 games.

Adamson vs. San Sebastian (10am)

Adamson has the advantage because they have a deeper bench and Lenda Douanga, a rim protector. They have the talent and the depth to go deep. Their bigs – Lenda Douanga, Simon Camacho, and Christian Bernardo are playing well. Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jerom Lastimosa form a lethal backcourt combo. Off the bench they have capable support in Joem Sabandal, Aaron Fermin, and AP Manlapaz. 

Vince Magbuhos has confidence problems. If he overcomes that, he will be a force. But that is because the rookies have taken away some of those minutes. That the rookies are playing is good for the coming UAAP season.

With the Golden Stags missing Allyn Bulanadi, they have fewer options on offense and defense. 

The Stags’ RK Ilagan has been checked in the last two games and when he isn’t producing, San Sebastian doesn’t have much. JM Calma is more of a complimentary player. Alvin Capobres, back after a lengthy injury, is probably the only other player capable of creating for himself (with Bulanadi out) or for others. Kenneth Villapando can and will be the heir to Bulanadi as the do-it-all player so he will help. 

Michael Are’s game has gone south after a good previous season. Alex Desoyo needs more minutes and consistency. But where San Sebastian is vulnerable is at the center position. I feel bad for Jessie Sumoda. I think the coaches should really work on his skills. If Baste wants to go deep in the Filoil tourney and the upcoming NCAA, they will need Sumoda to contribute. 

Advancing to the next round: Adamson

Lyceum vs. CEU (12noon)

If Jayson David continues to play the way he did in the last two games – playing the role of CJ Perez in the last two seasons for the Pirates – on both ends of the court; add JC and JV Marcelino and Mike Nzeusseu in the slot, they will be tough to beat.

The way David and the Double Trouble brothers play together is a sight to behold. Kangkarot basketball. Pests on defense and pedal to the metal hoops. 

If they need to play steady, half-court hoops, Raymar Caduyac, Niño Ibañez, Jeff Santos, and Jerwin Guinto can beat you. This team has fully embraced the system of Topex Robinson. 

LPU is a veteran, talent-laden, and deep team. What will make them win in the Filoil tourney and the NCAA is if they can be more efficient on offense and lessen their turnovers. 

The Centro Escolar University Scorpions are in because UP vacated their slot. This is good experience for this team that is also battling it out in the D-League Finals versus Ateneo. 

As good as center Maoudo Diouf is, he cannot do it alone. He will need point guard Franz Diaz to be steady and knocking down those outside shots. Jerome Santos and Rich Guinitaran need to contribute not only on offense but also defense.

With a short rotation, they need to stay out of foul trouble. 

Advancing to the next round: The Pirates who will Look overwhelm CEU with their pace.

San Beda vs. FEU (2pm)

A veteran team that knows what to do against a rebuilding team filled with youth. 

The Red Lions aren’t as deep as they have been in years, but the strength of this team is they all know their roles. They have their gunners and their role players. 

But their success if predicated on Even Nelle, James Kwekuteye/Clint Doliguez, Donald Tankoua producing. San Beda can get by one either Kwekuteye or Doliguez in the midst of a slump. But if Nelle and Tankoua pitch in, watch out because they are putting the hurt from all sides of the court. Plus, I like the selfless contributions of Calvin Oftana, Ralph Penuela, and Arnaud Noah. 

FEU has talent, and they are one of the three hottest teams heading into the quarterfinals (along with San Beda and Lyceum). They have gotten better as the tourney went on with some players returning from injury (such as Hubert Cani). 

FEU was badly beaten by San Beda in the D-League. If they want to reverse the tables, they need to win the battle of the boards with Cameroonian Patrick Tchuente protecting that rim while veterans Wendell Comboy, Rey Bienes, Cani, Alec Stockton, Joe Nunag, and Ken Tuffin contributing. You cannot leave the fate of this team to young guns Xyrus Torres, Royce Alforque, and Kenji Roman. 

I think this game will be a lot closer than people think. 

Advancing to the next round: San Beda by a close one.

La Salle vs. Letran (4pm)

Just when people write them off, they come back with a good team. They always have had talent. They have savvy vets in Justine Baltazar, Aljun Melecio, and Andrei Caracut and solid players like Jordan Bartlett and Kurt Lojera plus young talent in Ralph Cu, Joaqui Manuel, Encho Serrano. If Brandon Bates can become more active they will have more front court depth.

Confidence has never been a problem for this team. 

Letran on the other hand has depth and talent. I love how this team is built. They have played well even without Jerrick Balanza and Bonbon Battiler. They have a solid frontline in Larry Muyang, Jeo Ambohot, and Christian Balagasay. They have athletes and two-way players like Renato Ular, Jap Pambid, King Caralipio, and Louie Sangalang. They have a tough point guard corps in Kurt Reyson, Tommy Olivario, and Fran Yu, and a terrific shooter in Allen Mina.

I’d say that Letran has the frontcourt edge. 

Advancing: If Letran’s back court can match La Salle’s they will advance. If they cannot stop Baltazar, Caracut, and Melecio, look for the Green Archers to march on.