In just three games, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA had already emerged as a legitimate title contender in the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball tournament.
The Junior ALTAs opened their campaign with an 89-75 win against LPU before picking up a 93-85 victory against EAC. Their latest victim, meanwhile, was last season's runner-up La Salle Green Hills, which they dealt a 110-91 beating on Sunday to go 3-0 in the team standings.
A key factor in their strong surge this season is the presence of Amiel Acido.
Against the Greenies, the 6-foot-3 senior forward detonated for 33 points, the highest single-game total so far this season, to move up to second in the scoring race with 18.67 points a game. He also posted 10 rebounds, five assists, and four steals to complete an all-around outing.
Acido, who was included in last year's Mythical Five and All-Defensive Team, admitted that a number of collegiate schools are already making offers to him.
But Acido said he is not yet entertaining anyone, stressing his and the team's focus at the moment is to deliver the school's first-ever juniors basketball title.
"Meron naman po, pero as of now sa Perps pa rin po ‘yung focus. Wala muna akong ine-entertain," Acido shared.
"Sa ngayon focus kami sa goal na makapag-perform kami nang maayos as a team and ma-lead ko nang maayos ‘yung mga teammates ko. ‘Yung award parang bonus na lang ‘yun. Ang main goal namin ay mapa-champion ‘yung Perpetual."
[There are collegiate teams, but as of now, my focus is on Perps. I'm not entertaining anyone... Right now, we're focused on the goal, which is that we perform well as a team and for me to lead my teammates well. The awards are like a bonus. Our main goal is for Perpetual to become champion.]
Perpetual head coach Jose Felix Cleopas lauded his main guard, saying he had expected a strong showing from Acido.
"I expected him to play hard and good, but I didn't expect na despite na sumusunod siya sa sistema ay napupunta pa rin sa kanya ‘yung mga shots," Cleopas said.
"‘Yun ‘yung lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na if you give in to the system, eventually the ball will come to you. I want him to keep working and ‘wag masilaw sa mga ganitong performance."
[I expected him to play hard and good, but I didn't expect that despite him sticking to the system, the shots still went to him... That what I always tell them, if you give in to the system, eventually the ball will come to you. I want him to keep working and not let this performance distract him.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
