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| The De La Salle Green Archers' UAAP title defense begins against the team that preceded them as champions. (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
SAN JUAN, MM--A host-versus-champ collision between FEU and La Salle will cap the opening weekend of the 80th UAAP Men's Basketball Tournament.
In a copy of the official schedule obtained by Dugout Philippines on Friday, the Tamaraws, this season's hosts, and the Green Archers, the reigning champs, will lock horns on Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
With FEU being the 2015 champ, it will actually be an early showdown between the last two UAAP champs.
The game will also mark the UAAP coaching debut of Olsen Racela, who replaced his younger brother Nash as the Tams' mentor when the latter moved to the PBA's TNT KaTropa.
The other game scheduled for Sept. 10 is a 2 p.m. clash between UST and UP.
The season will begin on Sept. 9 also at the MOA Arena with the UE-NU game at 2 p.m. and the Ateneo-Adamson showdown at 4 p.m.
Action will then shift to the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Quezon City for three straight playdates from Sept 13-17.
The MOA Arena will host UAAP games three more times the week later before "The Big Dome" gets to host again for four straight playdates.
The finals rematch between La Salle and Ateneo will happen on the final day of the first round on Oct. 8 also at the MOA Arena.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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