There is absolutely no shortage of talent in the camp of Cebuano coach Joph Cleopas. The Perpetual Junior Altas are stacked, no doubt, but there is no monopoly of leadership or star quality amongst their ranks– every Alta is made to be as capable and as functional as the next guy on the bench.
This team composition has thus far been the standard in #NCAA100 juniors hoops, and will be key for Coach Joph and his boys– fresh off a masterful Final Four disposal of San Beda– as they inch closer to a long-awaited gold.
ROLE FULFILLMENT
“Since the start of this team, nung nabuo ito, we really put emphasis on our roles. It's not all about anyone who can score, but they should be the best player at their role– mayroong good rebounder, good shooter, good passer, and so on, and they just become the best player at their role,” Coach Joph told GMA Regional TV News after a victorious semis clash against the Red Cubs.
“Kanina nagbunga talaga yun, and we are blessed na nakuha namin yung panalo,” he said.
Perpetual eliminated the San Beda, 96-87, on Monday afternoon, banking on an all-around effort that looked more like a team demolition job than an emphatic win led by a player or two.
Dan Rosales, adjudged best player of the game, quietly dropped a team-high 19 points, laced with six boards and two dimes. With his lowkey on-court demeanor, often sporting a straight face make or miss, it was no surprise that he did this seemingly under the radar, and in only 20 minutes of action.
“Hindi ko po inexpect na magiging best player ako, kasi kanya-kanya talaga kaming role dito,” Rosales, a General Trias, Cavite native, told GMA Regional TV News.
Five other teammates logged more minutes than Rosales: Icee Callangan (28:14), Lebron Daep (23:30), Jericho Cristino (22:18), Jan Roluna (21:06), and Jan Pagulayan (20:46).
But his scoring output stood tallest, thanks to his overall efficiency (58.3% field goal shooting) and hot shooting from beyond the arc (3/6 threes), which likely earned him the endgame honors.
“Binigay sa aking role yung dumpensa, at yung shooting ko. Binibigyan nila ako ng green light tumira pag libre. Para sa akin, yung spacing na nabibigay ko tuwing nasa corner ako, nabibigyan ko sila ng space para umatake para maka create sila ng shots nila,” he said of the special role assigned to him: a 3-and-D, which stands for a three-point specialist with good defensive tendencies.
“Ginawa ko lang yung best ko sa role na binigay sa akin. Binigay ko yung 100% ko,” he added.
Another Junior Alta who, in Coach Joph’s words, is the “best at his role” was 6-foot-7 center Lebron Daep, one of the country’s top junior prospects.
He finished with nine points on very limited touches, but tallied 10 rebounds (5 offensive boards) with four dimes, two steals and a block. He only took a total of four shots, going perfect from short distance while missing a three-pointer.
Beyond his numbers on the box score, it was his leadership and steady presence that proved to be irreplaceable for the Junior Altas.
“Ili-lead ko sila and gagabayan ko sila palagi para mas ma-boost namin lahat yung laro namin… Yung binigay saking role is maging leader sa team, actually lahat naman kami leader sa team, lahat kami nagsasalita at kinakausap namin ang isa’t-isa para mag-improve,” said Daep, a Legazpi City, Albay native who recently placed second overall in a juniors ranking by the National Basketball Training Clinic (NBTC).
Daep also commended Rosales in his role, calling his Caviteño teammate the designated shooter in Coach Joph’s system.
“Kay (Dan) Louie, grabe yung pinakita nya. Yung three pointers nya, shooter talaga at kilala namin yan, kaya pinagkakatiwalaan namin yan. Pero mas na-appreciate namin yung depensa nya kasi lahat gustong mag-hustle sa depensa,” he explained.
SELFLESS BASKETBALL
The Perpetual Junior Altas finished the elimination round atop the standings (8-1). They lead the league in scoring, averaging 89.4 points per game. They are first in bench production with 51.6, which only means their schemes allow for effectively scattering the scoring load among starters and bench players.
In their rout of San Beda, three other Junior Altas scored in double digits aside from Rosales: Roluna (15), Pagulayan (13), and Tabbuan (10).
The starting unit of Rosales, Roluna, Tabbuan, [Rian] Baldoria, and [Keanne] Zanoria produced 52, while the bench, which included the likes of Daep, Pagulayan and floor general Icee Callangan, poured in 44.
It seemed as if whichever combination Coach Joph fielded was just as effective as the previous one, as contributions, offensively and, more importantly, defensively, came aplenty.
“Praise God the boys really fought hard on defense. We accept our roles, kasi usapan talaga namin na our defense should be our offense, and we should be selfless in this game,” the Cebuano mentor said of his reminders to the Jr Altas.
“Ibuhos natin lahat for this game and don’t think about the next game… the boys responded well and really wanted to win, relentless sila kanina and I’m so proud of them,” he added.
Now back in the finals for the second straight year, more experienced and better-running as ever, the Perpetual Junior Altas look to finally win their first ever NCAA juniors basketball gold.
“I always tell this to my players and myself– ‘we are just as good as our last game.’ Ngayon nga we didn't expect na magiging finalists ulit kami kasi ang lalakas ng kalaban. God-willing, this will be the time, hindi pa man namin masabi yan, but we will give our best,” Cleopas said.
(with reports from Ian Zane Esparaga/GMA Regional TV and Synergy)
