Coach Olsen Racela’s Perpetual Help Altas, honed for a year, are ready for their National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 101 opener against the San Sebastian College Stags on Friday (October 3, 2025) at 12 noon at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Racela will field a strong team, including veterans John Cedrick “ABeast” Abis, John Paul Boral, and Jearico Nuñez in their final year.
Other holdovers are point guard Shawn Orgo, center Emman Pizarro, Bulacan native forward Angelo Gelsano and sophomore hotshot Mark Derick Gojo Cruz.
Other recruits and transferees eligible to play include hotshot Patrick Sleat and Kevin Guibao from FEU, LA Casinillo from NU, JM Talabut, Josh Alcantara and Allen Maglupay from UE and brothers Kenji Duremdez and Kylle Magdangal from UST.
Also included in the lineup are rookies Aries Borja, JD Pagulayan and Jan Roluna from the defending champion Junior Altas.
They will challenge new Golden Stags’ coach Rob Labagala’s team, led by last season’s top scorer Paeng Are and team captain Tristan Felebrico.
The Junior Altas, under coach Joph Cleopas, will also begin their title defense at 9:30 a.m. against Chelito Caro’s SSC Staglets.
They will count on players like Loiue Rosales and team captain Lance Nitura, with new talents such as Rayven Restificar and Brent Rosales filling key roles.
Other games on Friday include the Letran Knights vs. JRU Heavy Bombers at 2:30 p.m., with their junior counterparts also competing at 5 p.m.
