Top NCAA schools Colegio de San Juan de Letran and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will look to barge into the Final Four of the 2024 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup when they tackle separate foes in the crossover quarterfinals.
The Knights are back to their old deadly form and emerged as the top seed in the NCAA bracket with a 7-2 card, arranging a quarterfinal duel against University of the East, which wound up fourth in the UAAP bracket.
The Blazers, meanwhile, blazed their way to the second seed with a similar 7-2 slate and earned the right to slug it out against Far Eastern University in the knockout phase.
A win by Letran will send them to the semifinals against either longtime rival and defending NCAA champion San Beda University or reigning UAAP titlist De La Salle University, which will face off in the other quarterfinal bracket.
In the other quarterfinal pairing, reigning Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup champion University of the Philippines will lock horns with NCAA Season 99 runner-up Mapua University with the winner setting up a semis clash with either Benilde or FEU.
The Knights, who have undergone a major revamp after a humdrum Season 99 campaign, saw a massive development following the hiring of head coach Allen Ricardo, who led the Squires to back-to-back titles in the juniors ranks.
Along with his arrival, Letran has also gotten some prized recruits in high school standouts Titing Manalili and Jovel Baliling, joining the likes of Jimboy Estrada, Nathan Montecillo, Deo Cuajao, and Pao Javillonar.
The Blazers, on the other hand, maintained their contender status, winning seven straight games since their opening day loss to the Knights before bowing to EAC in their final elimination round assignment on Thursday.
Letran and UE will open the four-game bill on Saturday at 12 p.m. followed by the 2 p.m. encounter of Benilde and FEU. UP and Mapua will square off at 4 p.m. as La Salle and San Beda collide at 6 p.m.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
