Game today:

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

9:30 a.m. — Perpetual vs Letran

It's going to be destiny versus dynasty when University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and Letran College collide in Game 3 of their Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors basketball tournament best-of-three finals series today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Game time is set at 9:30 a.m. with the Junior Altas seeking their historic first title in 40 years while the Squires eager to protect their reign in the country's oldest collegiate league.

The title showdown had turned into a see-saw battle with the strongest, the hungriest and the most determined squad tipped to raise the trophy.

The Squires drew the first blood as they booked a convincing 97-80 win, thanks to the explosive performance of Jonathan Manalili, who erupted for 35 points.

Letran was poised to win the title when they erected a 19-point lead in the first half of Game 2, but Perpetual stormed back with Most Valuable Player Amiel Acido knocking down the go-ahead three-pointer in the final 53.8 seconds to pull off a 91-90 victory in Game 2.

JD Pagulayan was the star of the show, finishing with a double-double effort of 23 points and 10 rebounds while Acido and Rookie of the Year Mark Gojo Cruz chipped in 19 and 16 points, respectively, to gain the equalizer and forge a sudden-death duel between two sides that are evenly matched in terms of firepower, defense, and intensity.

Still, Perpetual coach Joph Cleofas knows that their effort in Game 2 will be worthless if they will not go for the kill in the deciding Game 3.

"Letran will be back. They are fighters and they are a champion team. Their coaching staff are all winners," said Cleopas, who is looking to etch his name in the record books as the first coach to lead the Junior Altas to the title since joining the league in 1984.