LAS PIÑAS CITY — Season 102 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) juniors basketball tournament will begin on Sept. 13, 2026 but this early, the Junior Altas are gearing up for another serious run for the championship.
After claiming its first NCAA crown in Season 100, the Junior Altas finished Season 101 in sixth place with a 6-7 win-loss record.
This time, head coach Joph Cleopas is making sure the team can contend for the title anew with new recruits to fill up the vacant spots.
Six of the team’s seven new players have joined the training camp at the Home of the Altas gymnasium in Barangay Pamplona III.
Cleopas said he wants to build chemistry between the new recruits and the team’s holdovers. He also wants his new players to get in tune with the Perpetual Help system of play.
The new recruits are 6’3” Daniel Okeowo from the United Kingdom, 6’2” Sizco Koquid from Biñan, Laguna, 6’4” Keith Sabuco from Eastern Samar, 6’4” Brian Orca Jr from Olongapo City, 6’2” Adrian Faustino from Austria and Kevin Castro from Binmaley, Pangasinan.
Cleopas said he is still waiting for the arrival of 6’5” Max Maurice from the United Kingdom to complete the pool.
Cleopas said the new players will fill the positions vacated by Jim Corpuz, Kurt Velasquez and Renzo Zanoria who are now part of the seniors' team as well as Hanz Llupar, Lance Nitura, Pertjude Binagatan and Cristito Ferrer, who have completed the high school program.
Returning for the team are Lord Dulanas, Arkin Cristobal, Sam Villaruel, John Restificar, Francis Rosales and three players who were members of the Season 100 championship team -- Louie Rosales, Kurt Patalinghug, and Ezekiel Zamoras.
