University of Perpetual Help System DALTA will put its unblemished record on the line when it squares off with rejuvenated Mapua University in another must-see match on Sunday in the NCAA Season 100.
The ALTAs and the Cardinals will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre with the former looking to preserve their 2-0 win-loss record while the latter eye to make it two wins in a row.
While the stakes are high in the game, the spotlight is now focused on two rookies.
Mark Gojo Cruz has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Las Piñas crew, leading the rebuilding squad to a pair of huge victories over Jose Rizal University and Arellano University that put them in the upper half of the standings.
The rookie out of the Perpetual high school program is now the leading scorer for coach Olsen Racela, putting together 17.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks through the first two games. But the ultimate test, at least for now, for Gojo Cruz and the rest of the ALTAs would be Mapua.
Like Perpetual, the Cardinals are also looking fierce with a youthful core. Their previous win against Emilio Aguinaldo College saw first year Lawrence Mangubat take charge with 15 points, three rebounds, and one steal as they barged into the win column.
Racela, though, said seeing the players fully embrace his system is much more important than the result as of now.
"'Yung winning right now is secondary, gusto ko na matuto 'yung mga players sa ginagawa namin, with the system and everything. Bonus na lang na nag-2-0 kami," the Ginebra deputy said.
"2-0 is nothing. Hindi pa namin nakakalaban ang Mapua na kalaban pa namin next game [and] ang San Beda, ang Benilde. So I don't wanna think about that. Ang iniisip ko ngayon is how to prepare for Mapua."
In the first offering of the double-header, winless teams Lyceum of the Philippines university and JRU will slug it out with the first win for either team at stake. Both squads feature a 2-0 card.
The Pirates, however, will go into that battle without one of its soldiers in JM Bravo, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining an injury in their last game against San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
With the fourth-year wingman out, LPU will need the others to step up, especially against the equally-hungry Heavy Bombers.
JRU, reeling from the loss of several stars like Agem Miranda, JL Delos Santos, Marwin Dionisio, and Ry Dela Rosa, is fresh off a narrow loss to Colegio de San Juan de Letran last Friday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
