The Cebuano-powered defending champions Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws will kick off their title defense in the hardest of ways as they battle the mighty La Salle Green Archers today in the 79th UAAP men’s basketball tournament over at the Mall of Asia Arena.
A contentious preseason tune-up game, which saw both teams exchange pointed barbs, sets the stage for this explosive showdown between two teams that are expected to contend for the crown.
On one side are the Tamaraws, who lost most of its veteran core but retained some feisty cagers led by the likes of former Southwestern University Cobra Monbert Arong, ex-University of the Visayas guard Ron Dennison, ex-Cebu Institute of Technology-University pivot Barkley Ebona and former Cebu Eastern College big man Raymar Jose.
In a talk with Cebu Daily News, FEU assistant coach Ryan Betia revealed that they are currently looking at fielding a starting five that will feature the Cesafi products to battle a La Salle squad that will see the UAAP debut of another former SWU stalwart in Cameroonian forward Ben Mbala.
Mbala was recruited from SWU in 2012.
In the first game, the National University Bulldogs will be taking on the University of the East Red Warriors.
This game will also mark the debut of former Cesafi Mythical Five member Joshua Sinclair for the Bulldogs. He is being joined on the Bulldgos by several Cesafi products in Dave Wilson Yu and Adven Jess Diputado.
UE will also feature former University of Cebu guard Andrey Armenion, ex-CEC forward Mark Olayon and former SWU center Rey Mark Acuno.