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| With the MPL Philippines Playoffs happening at the Playtime FilOil Centre, the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup will have a 15-day break. Richard Esguerra (file photo) |
MANILA—FilOil EcoOil Sports confirmed that it will give way to the MPL Philippines Playoffs.
The official schedule of the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, which was revealed on Monday night, stated that the tourney will not hold games from May 22-June 5, as the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan City will be used for the premier esports league's postseason festivities.
This effectively means that MPL PH will have five days to set up its "champion's arena" at the said venue, another five days for the entire playoffs, and five more for the egress.
Planning to end the tournament by late July, the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup will have five strings of consecutive days in action throughout the group stages.
The much-talked-about college basketball preseason warzone will open with five straight days of action from May 17-21.
Lyceum will play Mapua in the FilOil tourney's opening game at 12 noon on Sunday, to be followed by back-to-back all-UAAP showdowns between University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines at 2 p.m. and National University and La Salle at 4:30 p.m. right after a simple opening ceremony.
Gilas Pilipinas Youth, the guest team in this year's edition, following the University of the East's decision not to participate, begins its campaign the following day at 5 p.m. against Far Eastern University, right after back-to-back all-NCAA battles between Jose Rizal University and Letran at 1 p.m. and College of St. Benilde against Perpetual Help at 3 p.m.
The FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup will hold back-to-back playdates as well on June 11-12, 16-18, 23-25, and July 7-9.
The July 9 tripleheader will be headlined by the longtime NCAA rivalry between the Knights and San Beda Red Lions and the brewing UAAP rift between the Fighting Maroons and Green Archers.
