University of Perpetual Help System DALTA is marching to its first-ever finals appearance after stunning perennial contender Mapua University, 96-91, in the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball Final Four on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Junior Altas flaunted their depth and endgame composure as they avenged their elimination round loss to the Red Robins to move two wins away from the title.
Jan Roluna proved to be the unlikely hero as the 19-year-old guard exploded with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds alongside two assists and three steals while Lebron Jhames Daep tallied 22 markers, six boards, three dimes, and two blocks.
Roluna completed two consecutive backdoor plays off the passes of Aries Borja and Amiel Acido to send the Junior Altas to an 85-80 cushion despite the hot hands of the Red Robins, whose backcourt tandem of Buboy Mangubat and Sean Salvador combined for 11 of the 16 triples from Mapua.
Acido then buried his second three-pointer for an 89-80 lead before Roluna completed an and-one opportunity for a 93-85 lead with a minute to go in the fourth.
MVP frontrunner Acido finished with an all-around outing of 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
Salvador and Mangubat paced Mapua with 26 and 23 points apiece.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
