University of Perpetual Help seeks its first victory in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament when it battles Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026.
Game time is 3 p.m.
The Altas opened their campaign with a 77-84 setback against last year’s finalist Letran Knights last Sunday.
The Las Pinas-based team will next face the EAC Generals in a rematch of the pre-season Pinoy Liga Collegiate Cup 2026 finals where the Altas of coach Olsen Racela prevailed early this month.
"We need to win this match, so we don't get bogged down on two consecutive losses, I know they can do it as a team effort," Racela said.
Racela will continue to rely on Gelo Gelsano, Shawn Orgo, JM Tulabut, JD Pagulayan and Mark Gojo Cruz to lead the team.
Gelsano finished with a double-double performance of 11 points and 10 rebounds last Sunday while Pagulayan added 18 points, including 12 from the 3-point area.
Letran, on the other hand, was led by rookie Denzil Walker who scored 21 points behind a 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Junior Altas, meanwhile, also seeks to bounce back from an opening day loss against the Letran Squires, 81-82, last Tuesday in the juniors division.
The team of coach Joph Cleopas rallied in the end game led by Brian Orca Jr and Louie Rosales but fell short of claiming victory.
The Junior Altas and the EAC Brigadiers collide at 10 a.m.
