NCAA, UAAP teams get early taste of action as Filoil preseason tilt returns on July 23

Before plunging back into their respective campaigns, NCAA and UAAP teams will first get an early taste of preseason action as the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup returns this July 23 in its home at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

All 10 NCAA squads and seven UAAP teams will participate in the tournament, which is making a comeback after a three-year hiatus.

"We're elated to host the UAAP and NCAA teams for the return of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup," said chairman Rey Gamboa.

"We're pumped to see competitive games from all the participating schools as we celebrate our 15th staging of the tournament."

The 17 teams will be grouped into two with reigning UAAP champion University of the Philippines bannering Group B where it will be joined by fellow UAAP clubs in La Salle, Adamson, FEU, UST, NU, UE, and 2019 Filoil titleholder San Beda.

Over in Group A, two-time defending NCAA titlist Letran will be pitted against familiar foes in Mapua, CSB, San Beda, Perpetual, JRU, San Sebastian, Arellano, EAC, and Lyceum.

The two groups will play in a round robin format with the top four teams in each group advancing to the crossover knockout playoff stage.

—JMB, GMA News