IN preparation for NCAA Season 101 in 2026, the 14-time NCAA champion Perpetual Altas Spikers have made significant changes.
This comes after their disappointing 6th-place finish in the recently concluded NCAA Season 100, a tournament won by the Arellano University Chiefs for their first-ever title.
Altas head coach Michael Cariño said he realigned the entire team because their Centennial Season campaign was subpar. They fell from a four-peat championship streak to fifth place out of 10 teams.
“Many people were missing, I just overhauled. I disciplined them, some didn’t fit the discipline I wanted,” said Cariño. “I need good leaders and good examples for the newbies, like mainstays Jeff Marapoc, Koby Tabuga, Klint Mateo, John Castil, and Dexter Arrozado.”
Cariño also mentioned that he has 11 rookies lined up for Season 101, including six from the Palarong Pambansa and players from coach Sammy Acaylar’s Living Stone team in Bacolod. These players have pledged to play for Perpetual Help even though the legendary coach has passed away.
The incoming rookies are Ike Julaton – Setter – Livingstone Bacolod; Charles Pallasa – Opposite Spiker – Livingstone Bacolod; Neil Ivan Asonio – Outside Hitter – Junob NHS Dumaguete City;
Nash Abinoja – Junior Altas; Jhelo Malabad – Tuguegarao City; Danver Custodio – Adamson HS; Jose Miguel Albon – Outside Spiker – Siquijor; John Paul Noble Franca – Middle Blocker – Siquijor; Marc Limuel Tangon – Outside Spiker – USJR; and James Sarmiento – Middle Blocker – Antique Province.
Returning players added to the team roster include Arky Corpuz, Justine Favilla, Nino Jay Talisayan, Joseph Arcenip, Jester Bornel, Sherwin Villegas, and Zain Mohammad.
Cariño emphasized their rigorous routine, stating that after only a one-week break following the season, they immediately returned to practice.
“Especially now, we have to double our efforts to ensure the squad is in top shape and caliber,” he noted. “With many rookies, we truly need focused, intense training, from conditioning to regular practice.”
From 2010 to 2024, the Perpetual Altas have consistently reached the Final Four for 15 years. Out of these, they were finalists 11 times and champions nine times, making the Las Piñas City-based university a powerhouse in men’s volleyball.
The Dr. Tony Tamayo-owned Perpetual Altas also hold the most titles in men’s volleyball, with 14 crowns achieved under Acaylar.
