University of Perpetual Help System DALTA is back in familiar territory.
This after the twice-to-beat Junior ALTAs bucked a slow start to eke out a 96-87 win against San Beda University in the NCAA Season 100 juniors Final Four on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Perpetual advanced to the finals for the second straight year and awaits its championship round challenger between either Colegio de San Juan de Letran or La Salle Green Hills.
They also ended the title dreams of the Red Cubs, their sole elimination round tormentor, to move within two wins of a historic maiden basketball title.
An unlikely hero emerged for the Junior ALTAs in their revenge game after rookie Dan Rosales rose to the occasion and put together 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal to step up amidst the early foul trouble of Jan Roluna and the offensive struggles of Lebron Jhames Daep.
"That was really expected talaga na 'pag San Beda ang kalaban kasi we lost a couple of games even in the preseason pa lang and that made us stronger," Perpetual head coach Joph Cleopas told GMA News Online.
"Na-build kami and sobrang daming learnings sa mga talo na 'yun, even ako as a coach."
San Beda was in the driver's seat for most of the first half, but not until the Junior ALTAs unleashed a wild turnaround with a 26-9 rampage to close out the first half enjoying a 51-40 lead.
Graduating JD Pagulayan then starred in the third period breakaway, knocking down a triple and back-to-back baskets that made it a 68-56 cushion for the Las Piñas crew.
Rosales then caught fire with two consecutive three-pointers that allowed Perpetual to take a 15-point advantage before the payoff period, 80-65.
San Beda, though, mounted a fightback with Laurence Batongbakal burying a triple to cut their deficit to a single digit, 90-81, with 3:23 to go. But Perpetual's depth was just too much as Icee Callangan and TJ Tabbuan unloaded the finishing kick.
Roluna, who was saddled with three fouls in the first half, finished with 15 points while Pagulayan finished with 13 markers, five rebounds, and one steal.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
