MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help hopes to lean on a combination of veteran and new recruits when it opens its campaign in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament against Emilio Aguinaldo College at The Arena in San Juan tomorrow.
The Altas, who reached the Final Four last year, will be without gunners Jetterson Vidal and Jorge Allen, who both have graduated, but will parade holdovers Nigerian swingman Nicolas Omorogbe, behemoth center 6’7 Femi Babayemi, and top locals Harold Arboleda, Justin Alano, Mark Bitoy, Chrisper Elopre, Joel Jolangcob, Anthony Paulino and last year’s Mythical Five member and Most Improved Player Earl Scottie Thompson.
Coach Aric Del Rosario also hopes to draw the best from talented recruits Juneric Baloria, Gerald Dizon, Nestor Bantayan Jr., Kervin Lucente, Kevin Oliveria and John Ylagan, who made good impressions during the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.
The Altas also finished second to the National U Bulldogs in the Fr. Martin Summer Cup.
Perpetual Help split its two meeting with EAC last year, escaping with a 72-71 squeaker in the first round before dropping another close 71-73 decision in the next.