For the first time in history, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA can call itself a basketball champion.
This after the Junior ALTAs reverted to their deadly form to dominate Benilde-La Salle Green Hills, 101-67, in Game 3 of the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball finals on Tuesday at thr Filoil EcoOil Centre.
This marked the school’s first-ever basketball title in either the juniors or seniors ranks.
"Nakahinga na ako. Since pumasok ako dito, locked in mode na ako. 'Yun 'yung feeling ko ngayon, ang sarap huminga," Perpetual head coach Joph Cleopas said.
"Malaki adjustment namin sobra. After the last game sabi ko this series is all about adjustment and we're just blessed na nakuha namin 'yung first game and we adjusted going into Game Three."
[I can breathe now again. Since I got here, I was in locked in mode. That's my feeling right now, it feels good to breathe... We had big adjustments to make. After the last game, I said this series is all about adjustment and we're just blessed we won the first game and we adjusted going into Game Three.]
By halftime, Perpetual was well on its way to secure the championship.
Fueled by a four-point loss in Game 2, the Junior ALTAs pounced on the Greenies early with rookie Jim Corpuz coming out of nowhere and putting the clamps on Guillian Quines, who only had two attempts in the first quarter.
Corpuz also proved his worth on offense as the rookie guard fired 11 points in that period alone, including a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from downtown, as they created a 32-18 separation.
Season 100 MVP Lebron Jhames Daep then took care of business in the second period by knocking down six points to help Perpetual mount a sizable 58-38 halftime cushion.
As if things weren't already going their way, the Greenies hit a snag when Game 2 hero Migs Osis was ejected from the playing court after incurring an unsportsmanlike and technical fouls in the third period. The Junior ALTAs headed to the fourth enjoying an 81-55 lead.
Perpetual never looked back with their bench players closing out what turned out to be a one-sided affair.
The biggest deficit the Junior ALTAs faced was a three points when Dale Ortega opened the match with a corner triple for a 3-0 lead. It has been all Perpetual since then.
Jan Roluna led a balanced scoring effort from the ALTAs as he logged 15 points and 10 rebounds. Icee Callangan, Corpuz and Dan Rosales scored 14, 13, and 12 markers, respectively.
Daep contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3. He was later named Finals MVP with averages of 13 points, 11.66 rebounds, 2.66 steals per game in the series.
Quines, who exploded for 35 points in Game 2, finished with 18 markers to lead the Greenies in this one, though he was forced into seven turnovers as well.
The scores:
Perpetual 101 - Roluna 15, Callangan 13, Corpuz 13, Rosales 12, Daep 12, Pagulayan 9, Tabbuan 9, Baldoria 5, Nitura 3, Dela Cruz 3, Velasquez 2, Borja 2, Llupar 2, Cristino 2, Zanoria 0.
Benilde-La Salle Green Hills 67 - Quines 18, Gomez 17, Ortega 9, Podador 8, Osis 4, Yutuc 3, Ison 2, Sharma 2, Torres 2, Abad 2, Hizon 0, Hachuela 0, Tud 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarters: 32-18, 58-38, 81-55, 101-67.
WATCH:
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
