University of Perpetual Help System Dalta guns for its first title when it competes in the junior basketball event of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 100 starting 18 February.
Junior Altas head coach Joph Cleopas will parade a powerhouse cast of holdovers in Lebron Jhames Daep and Aries Borja along with Kelsey Baldoria, Icee Callangan, JD Pagulayan, Jericho Cristino, Jan Roluna, TJ Tabbuan and Lance Nitura.
Six rookies, Kurt Velasquez and Louie Rosales from Batang Gilas, Felix Corpuz and Hanz Llupar from Cebu, Kurt Patalinghug from Lapu Lapu City and Renzo Zanoria from Cebu City are also expected to show their skills.
The Las Piñas City based school is now carrying their pre-season achievements titles that served as tests before heading into the NCAA.
The Junior Altas captured the Next Gen Basketball League (NGBL) title against National University before defeating Mapua University. They also took home the Junior Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball (MPBL) U18 crown following a victory over Rizal Province, which is composed of the Arellano Braves.
“For me, the three titles we got during the off-season, the NGBL, Under Armor Invitational Championship and Junior MPBL are just batteries of our team, to correct our mistakes whether it’s losing or winning,” Cleofas said.
“In every game, we learned, this win of ours is a test of our character. I told them, Don’t be overwhelmed by our victories, be happy but don’t give your full emotions here, remember we are doing this for our main tournament, the NCAA. Don’t lose your hunger in each game, focus on the goal and stay hungry.”
Cleopas said they will always be ready physically and mentally, to keep our system fluid, for a bigger task. Our opponents are quite heavy in the NCAA.
“First to do is to beat ourselves up, prepare for them everyday, since only a few weeks for the season that will only last for almost one month,” he added.
“I expect to show up for the eight veterans who are holdovers from the last season’s line-up, but everyone is an ingredient, since we are a team system, I rely on each of them and my stabilizer each one of them inside the court.”