Defending champion UP, UAAP kingpin La Salle, and NCAA ruler San Beda lead the 18-team cast for the 2024 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup tipping off May 11.

It will be a bumper crop field for the 17th edition of the premier preseason tourney with all eight teams from the UAAP and all 10 from the NCAA joining the fray as they begin their buildup for their season proper.

The reigning titlist Fighting Maroons will be among the favorites with JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez expected to lead the charge for coach Goldwin Monteverde.

But their rival Green Archers aren’t going away that easily, with coach Topex Robinson once again driven to steer his side to the pinnacle behind UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, Mike Phillips, and Jonnel Policarpio.

The Red Lions are also hungry to show they’re back among the elites, with coach Yuri Escueta pumped to finally parade Bryan Sajonia to pair up with NCAA Finals MVP James Payosing.

Teams will be grouped according to mother leagues, with the UAAP group featuring UP and La Salle together with Ateneo, Adamson, FEU, National U, UE, and UST.

San Beda, on the other hand, will feature in the NCAA group together with Arellano, Benilde, EAC, JRU, Letran, LPU, Mapua, Perpetual, and San Sebastian.

Teams will play in single-round robin eliminations with the top four from each group advancing to the crossover playoffs.

Commissioners Joe Lipa and Bert dela Rosa, tournament director Bennett Palad, media head and consultant Virgil Villavicencio, and marketing and finance head Diana Layug will once again spearhead the cage tilt.

Also returning this year is the Hanes 1-on-1 King of the Hardcourt tournament.