HOOPS

Amos, Lopez cross paths

Mark Escarlote

Games Wednesday:

(FilOil EcoOil Centre)

10 a.m. — LPU vs. Arellano

12 p.m. — UE vs. National U

2 p.m. — Faith Colleges vs. La Salle

4 p.m. — Ateneo vs. UP

Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines rekindle their storied rivalry in a titanic clash in the 2023 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The protagonists of the last two University Athletic Association of the Philippines championship series size up each other in the 4 p.m. main event of the quadruple-header bill.

The Blue Eagles make their debut with head coach Tab Baldwin fielding in Gilas Pilipinas big man Mason Amos, who helped the national team reclaim the gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last week.

Amos along with teammates Kai Ballungay, Forthsky Padrigao and Paul Garcia will lead Ateneo's charge against the struggling Fighting Maroons.

UP is coming off back-to-back losses including a painful 83-90 beatdown at the hands of De La Salle University last Saturday.

The Fighting Maroons will rely on Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, and Lebron Lopez to turn their fortunes around.

Meanwhile, the unbeaten Green Archers seek to whip up their seventh straight win to close in on a quarterfinal spot against hapless Faith Colleges of Batangas (0-4) at 2 p.m.

Lyceum of the Philippines University (2-2) clashes with Arellano University (0-3) at 10 a.m. followed by University of the East (2-3) squaring off against National University (1-1) at 12 p.m.