University of Perpetual Help’s Junior Altas will be undergoing some sort of a rebuild under head coach Michael Saguiguit in order to boost their campaign in the 94th season of National Collegiate Athletic Association, which opens July 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With four Perpetual standouts namely Joshua Gallano, John Duka, Zeth Romilla and Jearico Nunez remaining, the Junior Altas are hoping their 11 recruits and transferees will be able to fill the void, and more.
Team owner Dr. Tony L. Tamayo said the Junior Altas will try to better their 7-11 record and shoot for a Final Four berth following a remarkable performance in their pre-season campaigns.
“Our team is more competitive team even with the exit of top gunner Jielo Razon and court general Jasper Cuevas, who are now in our senior team. We will fight one game at a time. Our main goal is to enter the Final Four and surpass our sixth-place finish last season,” said Dr. Tamayo.
The Junior Altas will be without Errol Bongay, who was recruited by De La Salle University; Kenneth Maneze, who moved to Perpetual Molino; and John Umali, who transferred to rival Jose Rizal University.
Saguiguit, who was an alumnus of the team, will assess the skills of his rookies Jasper Coloma from Mary Hill College in Lucena City, Quezon Province; Marc Defante from Biñan City; Edziel Galoy from St. Francis of Assisi College-Taguig Campus; Shin Dela Cruz from UST Tiger Cubs, and Ezekiel Agbayani from Makati, and how to utilize them in the coming season. Saguiguit will get help from his assistants Ferdinand Ali-ali, Gerard Dizon and Louie Fernandez.
Also out to make a name for themselves for the Junior Altas are Rey Barcuma from Bukidnon, Emmanuel Galman from Bulacan, Yukihiro Kawamura from Manila, Derrick Lauchengco from Laguna, Fil-Nigerian Anthony Ogunsanya from Iloilo and Shawn Orgo from Negros Occidental.
Their battlecry this is year is ‘Fear and Respect,’ which they could put to good use when they face the San Beda Red Cubs in their opening game on July 8, 2 p.m. at Fil Oil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.