PASIG--Three Metro Manila-based collegiate teams decided not to join this year's FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles, the Arellano Chiefs, and the San Sebastian Golden Stags expressed that they will not participate in the tournament which serves as a gauge of how the NCAA, UAAP, and even some CESAFI teams will fare entering the college basketball season.
On Thursday during a meeting with the participating teams' coaches, Tournament Director Joey Guillermo offered an explanation why Ateneo and San Sebastian skipped this year's edition.
"Ateneo is out for a tournament in Tokyo," he said about the Blue Eagles.
For the Stags, he reasoned, "San Sebastian has a new coach. I think they're still in the process of organizing, and they may not be able to have their team set up in time for FilOil."
New coach Rodney Santos brought the core of his San Sebastian team to the PBA D-League as LiverMarin.
Guillermo, however, said that the management of Chiefs did not explain why they will skip the preseason tournament for the second straight year.
On the other hand, for the second straight edition, NAASCU champion CEU will play in the tournament.
He also revealed that USC was supposed to take the spot of fellow CESAFI side USJ-R in the preseason tourney.
On the other hand, for the second straight edition, NAASCU champion CEU will play in the tournament.
He also revealed that USC was supposed to take the spot of fellow CESAFI side USJ-R in the preseason tourney.
He said, "Actually, I invited the finalists of the CESAFI, SWU and USC, because I only had two slots for Cebu. But USC begged off because of budget constraints," while also revealing that he also reached out to UV with the team saying it also does not have enough finances.
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