LAS PIÑAS CITY — With less than a month remaining before the opening of juniors basketball tournament of NCAA Season 102, the University of Perpetual Help team is holding rigorous morning and afternoon training sessions daily at the Home of the Altas gym inside the campus.
Season 100 champion coach Joph Cleopas is determined to lead the team back to the throne after a disappointing quarterfinal exit against the eventual champions, the Letran Squires, last year.
To bolster the Junior Altas lineup, Cleopas has tapped seven new recruits, led by 6-foot-5 Max Maurice, who is a 16-year-old Filipino-British from Guilford, United Kingdom.
The other rookies are 17-year-old and 6-foot-3 Daniel Okeowo who is also from the United Kingdom; 18-year-old and 6-foot-2 Sizco Roquid from Biñan, Laguna; 18-year-old and 6-foot-4 Keith Sabuco from Eastern Samar; 17-year-old and 6-foot-4 Brian Orca Jr. from Olongapo City, 16-year-old and 6-foot-1 Kevin Castro from Binmaley, Pangasinan; and 16-year-old and 6-foot-2 Adrian Faustino from Austria.
The Junior Altas, who finished the elimination round of the previous season in sixth place with a 6-7 record, are holding two training sessions a day and playing tune-up games against other schools to improve team chemistry.
Cleopas said the new players will fill the positions vacated by Jim Corpuz, Kurt Velasquez and Renzo Zanoria who are now part of the training pool of the Perpetual Help seniors team poo as well as Hanz Llupar, Lance Nitura, Pertjude Binagatan and Cristito Ferrer, who all completed the high school program.
The Junior Altas have eight holdovers, including three remaining players from the Centennial Season championship team Louie Rosales, Kurt Patalinghug, and Ezekiel Zamoras.
Lord Dulanas, Arkin Cristobal, Sam Villaruel, John Restificar Francis Rosales and Josh Saga will also return this year.
Two years ago, Perpetual Help secured its first championship in 40 years as a member of the country's oldest league after the Junior Altas defeated La Salle Green Hills in the Finals.
Season 102 will open on Sept. 13, 2026 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
