Goldwyn Monteverde, the soft-spoken mentor of UAAP champion National University, yesterday downplayed the favorite’s tag labeled on his team, saying anybody can beat anybody in the8th PSSBC Freego Cup which opens shop on Dec. 14 at the SGS gym Quezon City.
Former chairman Rudy Yu (3rd from left) poses with the management committee of the PSSBC Freego Cup. From left are Edster Sy, Sunny Co, Commissioner Ato Badolato, NCAA representative Peter Cayco of Arellano University, Bernard Yang and Levy Valenzuela.
“This is a different arena and I’m sure everybody has its own motivation to beat us and go all theway to the championship,” said Monteverde, who is on his last term as the bullpups mentor after being designated to handle the men’s team of NU starting next season’s UAAP.
“Besides bilog ang bola at saka maraming malalakas na teams ngayon,” added the architect of the NU’s 10championships the past two years, including back-to-back ASEAN Championships.
During the league’s media launching at the Shatin Courtyard Restaurant in Quezon City, Monteverde picked NCAA champions Beda University, Lyceum and Ateneo as the teams who have what it takes to become champion in the annual tournament dubbed as “Battle of Champions”.
“Actually all teams are strong so I expect another exciting race for the title,” said PSSBC chairman Eduard Tio of Freego. “The best teams of NCAA and UAAP are here and so are the top three Fil-Chinese schools.”
Also entered in the event that also has the backing of Blackwater Sports, IronCon Builders, JumboPlastic Linoleum, Rain or Shine, Hapee Toothpaste, MEC Networks, and MacbethUnderwear are La Salle-Greenhills, La Consolacion, San Sebastian College,Chiang Kai Shek College, Hope Christian, Lyceum, Far Eastern University, Adamson and Xavier.
San Beda, bannered by former NU star Rhayyan Amsali, Justine Sanchez, Winston Ynot and Yukien Andrada, is bidding for a third title after winning the event in 2014 and 2018.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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