University of Perpetual Help System DALTA is counting on its veterans to carry the scoring load as it seeks another deep run in Season 102 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

At the forefront is Mark Gojo Cruz, who coach Olsen Racela expects to take on a bigger role when the Altas begin their campaign on 13 September.

Gojo Cruz will be joined by fellow veterans LA Casinillo, Sean Orgo, Gelo Gelsano and J.M. Tulabut as Perpetual looks to build on its Final Four finish last season.

“Every year, Gojo needs to have a bigger role. Although this is just his third year, he really needs to improve. That’s how college basketball is — you need to improve every year,” Racela said.

The Altas reached the Final Four in Racela’s second season at the helm but fell to Letran College in the best-of-three semifinals. They placed third place after beating College of Saint Benilde.

But Perpetual will have to fill several holes after losing veterans Patrick Sleat, Jericho Nunez, JP Boral and John Abis.

“The ones we lost are veterans. Their experience was a big deal, so we’re looking for guys who can really fill the roles they left behind,” Racela said.

The Altas will be grouped with Arellano University, Letran, Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Sebastian College in Group B.

They showed that they could compete against the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ best players during the off-season, edging reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University, 66-64, in the bronze-medal game of the Roxas City Invitational Tournament in Capiz last week.

Still, Racela knows there is plenty of work to do before the season opens.

Perpetual is also counting on newcomers led by former Gilas Youth cager Kurt Velasquez and Junior Altas Jim Corpuz and Jericho Cristino.

“We were hoping to get more because we see the value of those kinds of tournaments. But we saw that we still need to improve on a lot of things. Chemistry is one of them,” Racela said.

“We hope that two weeks will be enough. The trip out of town really helped us with our chemistry as well.”