UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System DALTA and La Salle Greenhills clash for the NCAA juniors’ basketball title in a do-or-die Game 3 on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Junior Altas took Game 1 of the best-of-three finals, 100-96, before the College of St. Benilde (CSB-LSGH) Greenies equalized in the second game, 95-91.
Newly minted MVP LeBron James Daep is expected to bounce back this time, after scoring a paltry 8 points in Game 2, on only 4 of 15 shooting.
LSGH was led by Guillian Quines, whose double double performance in Game 2 of 35 points and 11 rebounds to go with 4 assists and 5 steals keyed the Greenies’ win.
“We will give all our best in Game 3, ilalabas na lahat din ng La Salle ito. God-willing, sana ibigay sa amin. If not, glory to God pa rin,” said Perpetual Help coach Joph Cleopas.
The 6’7” Daep emerged as the second consecutive MVP awardee from the Junior Altas after Amiel Acido, who bagged the award last year, when he became the first-ever player in school’s history to be accorded the honor in the high school ranks.
Daep posted an impressive 51.88 player average value (PAV) to take the coveted individual plum.
His teammate Jericho Cristino was named Most Improved Player.
Members of the Defensive Team are Sean Franco of Arellano University, Jhuniel Dela Rama of Letran, Daep, Sanlea Penaverde of San Sebastian College and Mapua’s Allan Launenaria, who was also the Rookie of the Year.
Mythical Five members are Penaverde, Dela Rama, EJ Castillo of Emilio Aguinaldo College, Daep and his teammate Jan Roluna.