League leader Perpetual Help tries to bounce back when it faces defending champion Mapua in the continuation of the #NCAASeason101 men’s basketball tournament on Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Coach Olsen Racela’s Altas, who are still at the top of the charts with an 8-2 record, will face the Intramuros-based squad at 2:30 p.m. after St. Benilde and Letran clash at 12 noon.
Patrick Sleat led the way for Perpetual, scoring 11 points on top of 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a block in 25 minutes of play in a one-point, 61-62 loss to the San Sebastian Stags on November 8.
In the first meeting against Mapua, Perpetual won by as much as 10 points, 75-65, with John Paul Boral finishing with 25 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes of play, while LA Casinillo, Sleat and Mark Derick Gojo Cruz also scored in double digits—13, 12, 12 points—respectively.
The Altas hope to get the win to seal their entry into the quarterfinals in Group A and gain the twice-to-beat advantage in the tournament.
Racela will also rely on skipper Shawn Orgo, John Abis, Jearico Nuñez, Josh Alcantara, Allen Maglupay and support from Gelo Gelsano, Emman Pizarro, JM Talabut, JD Pagulayan, Kenji Duremdes and Aries Borja.
