THE defending champion Letran Squires and the powerhouse Perpetual Help Junior Altas begin their respective bids against separate opponents on opening day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 Juniors’ Basketball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on February 24, 2025.
The back-to-back champion Squires tackle the Lyceum Junior Pirates at 8 a.m., while the Altalettes take on the Mapua-Malayan Red Robins at 10 am.
The Arellano University Braves and Jose Rizal University Light Bombers clash at 12 noon, La Salle-Greenhills battles the San Sebastian College Staglets at 2 p.m. and the San Beda University Red Cubs face the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers in the final game at 4 p.m.
The Perpetual Junior Altas of coach Joph Cleopas begin their quest for a first title with nine holdovers from the last year’s team that made it to the NCAA finals for the first time since joining the league in 1985.
Cleopas will lean on Lebron Jhames Daep, Jan Roluna, Aries Borja, Kelsey Baldoria, Icee Callangan, JD Pagulayan, Jericho Cristino, TJ Tabbuan and Lance Nitura.
The Las Piñas-city based school hired six rookies to replace those who graduated, namely Amiel Acido, who is now with the Santo Tomas Tigers in the UAAP, JP Panelo, who is now with the Pirates and Regie Ayon.
The rookies are Kurt Velasquez and Louie Rosales from the Batang Gilas, Felix Corpuz and Hanz Llupar from Cebu, Kurt Patalinghug from Lapu Lapu City and Renzo Zanoria from Cebu City.
The Las Piñas City-based school vowed to carry its pre-season achievements and titles and the school’s tune-up games against UAAP schools.
“We are focused and determined to win, one game at a time against the teams to beat this season—Letran, Mapua, San Beda and EAC,” said Cleopas.
Newly installed Squires’ head coach Willie Miller will parade his new recruits Dwyne Miranda from Far Eastern University and Daryl Valdeavilla from University of the Philippines Integrated School.