The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and La Salle Green Hills, the high school team of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, will battle for the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball crown starting Friday.
The Junior Altas aim to get Perpetual's first trophy in NCAA basketball, while Benilde-LSGH wants to get its second trophy following its first one in 2017.
But what does the numbers say about the two teams?
In their elimination round faceoff last February 26, the Junior Altas eked out a 92-88 win against the Greenies.
Perpetual then led by as much as 16, 79-63, early in the fourth period but the Greenies limited them to just 15 overall in the said frame against their 25 points to cut the deficit.
In the said match, Perpetual was leading in categories such as rebounds (62-45), assists (19-14), points off turnovers (14-12), points in the paint (68-36), fastbreak points (25-10), and starter points (53-45).
The Greenies, meanwhile, led in steals (17-12), bench points (43-39), and perimeter points (36-14).
Jericho Cristino was Perpetual's top scorer then with 21 points, while Lebron Jhames Daep had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Benilde-LSGH main man Guillian Quines, meanwhile, had 22 points.
By the end of the elimination round, Perpetual topped the league in several categories such as total field goals (42.32%) and assists (22.33). LSGH, meanwhile, was at 37.74% in the former, while their assists average is at 14.0
While Benilde-LSGH led in steals (14.0), Perpetual came in second with 12.11.
In the battle of their main players, Quines is second overall in average scoring with 23.89 points, while Daep had 15.44 points.
Daep's statline also had 8.33 rebounds, 1.78 steals, and 1.33 assists per game, while Quines' stats also averaged 5.33 rebounds, 4.44 assists, and 3.22 steals.
'Strength in numbers' vs 'Underdogs'
While Perpetual leads in more categories, head coach Joph Cleopas previously said it is because of their team's depth.
"Actually, this team is not built for one player only. I told the boys na don’t worry if mapagod. You’re not scoring, it’s okay and just play defense," Cleopas told GMA News Online.
"We should have strength in numbers. We don’t rely individually, we’re not a team if we’re like that kaya lagi kong nire-remind sa kanila na gano’n. Statistics are nothing, real coaches see your worth as players and how you lead kaya gano’n ‘yung response nila."
Aside from Daep, Perpetual also has the likes of Jan Roluna and JD Pagulayan to carry the team's load.
LSGH, meanwhile, is aware that they are considered as underdogs in the series.
While Perpetual grabbed the top spot with an 8-1 win-loss record at the end of the standings. the Greenies finished third in the standings with a 6-3 record.
The road to the finals was not easy for the Greenies.
With a twice-to-win disadvantage and without head coach Renren Ritualo and main man Quines in Game 1 of the semis, LSGH forced a do-or-die Game 2, thanks to the likes of Gian Gomez and Arle Podador who took over the game.
In Game 2, the Greenies once again proved they are worthy of the finals spot as they dethroned defending champions Letran.
"Talagang tinrabaho namin ‘to lahat. Mas gusto naming underdog kami kasi minamaliit talaga kami kahit sa school namin, duda na lahat. Ginawa lang namin ‘yon na motivation," Quines said.
"Inspired talaga kami na kailangan naming matalo ang Letran para ma-prove namin sa school na kaya namin."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
