Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
THE hunt for the elusive men’s basketball championship in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) continues for the Altas as Season 99 tips off on Sunday, September 24, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta has won many NCAA titles in other sports but has not yet captured the men’s basketball’s crown jewel.
This year, head coach Michael “Myk” Saguiguit is confident the Altas will have a major breakthrough in the tournament.
READY FOR BATTLE University of Perpetual Help Altas head coach Myk Saguiguit (second from right) gives instructions to his players during a practice session at the Home of the Altas gymnasium in Las Piñas City, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, three days before the opening of the NCAA Season 99 basketball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. PHOTO BY DENNIS ABRINA
“One thing is for sure is that the team will be very competitive this Season 99,” Saguiguit said.
“We have seasoned players na. They have all played in the NCAA already. It will be a very good season for Team Altas.”
The team, which placed seventh overall last year with a 7-11 record, drew support from the Perpetual Help family, most notably from Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player and Gilas Pilipinas standout Scottie Thompson.
The Barangay Ginebra star provided sponsors like World Balance and YM Cargo to the team, Saguiguit said.
“We are now in our final stage of preparation, honing our defensive and offensive moves and conditioning,” Saguiguit added.
With the exit of Kim Aurin, Lean Martel, Jef Egan and Steven Flores who completed their NCAA playing years, Saguiguit will rely on 14 holdovers and four rookies.
The holdovers are NCAA Season 98 Defensive Team member Mark Denver Omega, FilOil EcoOil 2023 preseason Mythical Team member Arthur Roque 2nd, Jasper Cuevas, Cyrus Nitura, Carlo Ferreras, Joey Barcuma, John Cedric Abis, JP Boral, Nathaniel Sevilla, Jearico Nuñez, Christian Pagaran, Shawn Orgo, Richard Movida and team captain Jielo Razon.
The rookies are Angelo Gelsano, Justin Thompson and Bryle Mascariñas from the Junior Altas team and Joshua Ramirez from Adamson University.
“We were running a system in Seasons 97 and 98 and we only used it a bit. It was a little short, but for now we will stick with the system, so one of the players will come out to score and play good defense, even in the second and third stringers,” the coach said.
To gear up for Season 99, the Altas made their pre-season busy by playing in the PBA D-League, FilOil EcoOil Tournament, Asia Basket Tournament and tune-up games with different teams in the collegiate league and the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
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