The two league leaders, the Perpetual Help Junior Altas and the Mapua Red Robins, hope to keep a clean slate in their encounter with the Arellano Braves and defending champion Letran Squires, respectively, on Friday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 Junior’s Basketball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City.
The Junior Altas of coach Joph Cleopas and Red Robins of coach Yong Garcia both have an identical 4-0 win loss slates as they seek to continue their winning run towards the next round and Final Four.
Mapua and Season 98 champion Letran Squires face each other at 8 a.m., while the Las Piñas City squad takes on Arellano University at 2:30 p.m.
Amiel Acido, Mark Gojo Cruz, Lebron Daep, JD Pagulayan, Icee Callangan, Regie Ayon and Kelsey Baldoria are expected to lead the Junior Altas.
Help is also expected from the team’s strong backcourt of 6’6” Aries Borja, Jericho Cristino, Wayne Valencia, Arzell Asuncion, Jamal Diaz, John Panelo, Jacob dela Cruz and RJ Bernaldez.
The Junior Altas are coming off a win last Wednesday against the San Beda Red Cubs (78-56) as they shoot for their 5th consecutive win.
“I told the boys to stay focused, stay hungry. No expectations yet, we are still working on it, but we vow to give our 100 percent in each game,” coach Cleopas said.
Meanwhile, the Red Robins are coming off a win over the JRU Light Bombers (72-57), led by Lawrence Mangubat, Sean Salvador, Nicolo Mulingtapang and Drie Gragasin.
On the other hand, the Squires’ desire to strengthen their position resulted in an 88-79 win against LPU-GenTri, banking on the performances of George Diamante and Moses Manalili, along with Jovel Baliling, Ric Golez and June Silorio.
In other games, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies face EAC-Immaculate Conception Academy-Dasmariñas City at 12 noon, while the SSC-R Staglets fight the JRU Light Bombers in the final game at 4:30 p.m.