Mark Gojo Cruz will play a key role when Group A’s no. 1 seed Perpetual faces the defending champions Mapúa for their second and final elimination clash tomorrow.

The sophomore star has been the Altas’ main offensive guy in Season 101, posting a team-high 13.6 points per contest with close to 4 rebounds and 2 assists. 

Across Perpetual’s league-leading eight wins, the Bulacan native was an efficient bucket-getter and averaged 15 points on 50% shooting.

In their two losses, Air Gojo only contributed an average of 8 points on a dismal 28.6% clip from the field. 

Gojo Cruz currently ranks seventh in average field goals made (5.2) while placing second overall in total plus-minus (+82), only behind teammate Shawn Orgo (+83).

The Perpetual homegrown has emerged as Coach Olsen Racela’s productive playmaker and go-to scorer in only his second year as a collegiate cager, logging the most on-court minutes for Perpetual with 27 per game.

All-around star Patrick Sleat will also have to be his usual self when they slug it out against the Escamis-led Cardinals. 

Sleat, an ace recruit from the FEU Tamaraws who’s playing his first year under the Altas program, is averaging 11.1 points and 4.4 boards while leading the squad in assists with 4 per contest (4th in NCAA). 

Perpetual took home a 75-68 victory against Mapúa in their first Season 101 matchup last October 8, with a flurry of points almost equally scattered among four Altas. 

JP Boral led the charge with 15 points, 3 boards, and 2 assists, while LA Casinillo had 13 on 3-for-5 shooting from 3. Patrick Sleat dropped 12 points, 10 boards, and 5 assists, while MGC extracted 12 and 4.