University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and Benilde-La Salle Green Hills will take a shot at glory —and history — when they lock horns in winner-take-all Game 3 of the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball finals on Tuesday.
Tip-off is at 2:30 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre with the Junior ALTAs looking to bag their first-ever title and the Greenies gunning for a fitting end to what has been a roller coaster season so far.
It's back to zero for both teams.
The squads have traded blows in the first two games as Perpetual drew first blood in a 100-96 Game 1 win before LSGH responded with a gritty 95-91 Game 2 escape with both games decided by just four points. Incidentally, their elimination round meeting also had a four-point margin after the Junior ALTAs took a 92-88 win.
But all the momentum, stats, and past results are out the window now. What matters if the fight they'll all put up in the clincher.
"It’s a roller coaster ride for us. I got suspended, our star player got suspended, everybody stepped up. Now we’re here in the finals. I can’t express any more words about the synergy of this team because the energy is so positive," LSGH head coach Renren Ritualo said.
Meanwhile, Perpetual's shot caller Joph Cleopas shared: "Maglalaro lang kami kung ano dapat ‘yung ilaro. We shouldn't be carried away too much by emotions."
But if history is any indication, either team can make the case to have a chance of winning.
Perpetual has shown its ability to bounce back from a loss. In fact, back in the elimination round, the Junior ALTAs faltered to San Beda University but won their next eight games, including a vengeful Final Four victory over the Red Cubs.
This is what Cleopas hopes they rediscover in Game 3.
"Gusto namin ma-test ‘yung mga sarili namin ngayon kung how we bounce back from a loss and learn from these things. I believe in the boys," the sophomore coach added.
"Na-feel ko ‘yung feelings nila ngayon. We'll just come back stronger."
LSGH, though, poses a huge threat for the redemption-seeking Perpetual.
The Greenies have now won four straight do-or-die games, winning their final elimination round game over Emilio Aguinaldo College where the last Final Four ticket was at stake.
They then pulled off a massive upset over the twice-to-beat Colegio de San Juan de Letran, dethroning the defending champions after two wins in a row to reach the finals.
LSGH replicated that grit and heart in Game 2 to drag the top-seeded Perpetual to a rubber match. But Ritualo said they will need more than just heart to finish what they started.
"It’s all fight, and all heart, but today they played smart. Hindi kasi pwedeng puro puso but we also have to play smart against a powerhouse team like the Perpetual Junior ALTAs," Ritualo said.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
