University of Perpetual Help System Dalta faces an early test when it battles powerhouse Mapua University in the opening salvo of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Season 100 juniors basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan on 24 February.

After falling short of winning the title last year, the Junior Altas are in for a serious challenge against the Red Robins in a match that will serve as the main game to the heavyweight showdown between reigning champion Letran College and Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Perpetual coach Joph Cleofas will shoot for the school’s first juniors title with nine holdovers from the team that made it to the finals for the first time since 1985.

LeBron Jhames Daep, Jan Roluna, Aries Borja, Kelsey Baldoria, Icee Callangan, JD Pagulayan, Jericho Cristino, TJ Tabbuan and Lance Nitura will be back in action to power the Junior Altas against a tough field bannered by Letran, which is now being coached by former Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Willie Miller with new recruits like Dwyne Miranda from Far Eastern University and Daryl Valdeavilla from University of the Philippines-Integrated School.

Rounding out the Perpetual roster are six rookies in Kurt Velasquez and Louie Rosales from the Batang Gilas, Felix Corpuz and Hanz Llupar from Cebu, Kurt Patalinghug from Lapu Lapu City and Renzo Zanoria from Cebu City.

“We are focused on winning one game at a time,” said Cleofas, noting that Letran, Mapua, San Beda University and Emilio Aguinaldo College will be the teams to beat this season.

The tourney will have a single round robin with each team having a game on each play date until 31 March. The top four teams after the eliminations will enter the Final Four with the first and second seeds enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.