The historic Season 100 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) kicked off the juniors basketball tourney with a quintuple-header on Monday, February 24, at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City, with Letran, Perpetual, Arellano, CSB-LSGH, and San Beda emerging victorious in their respective season openers.
The defending champions Letran Squires opened their Season 100 campaign with a resounding victory over the LPU Junior Pirates, 63-45, spearheaded by Jhuniel Dela Rama’s 14 points and 11 boards.
Syrex Silorio, a key holdover from the Season 99 championship squad, chipped in productive minutes particularly in the final frame, finishing with 12 markers laced with two boards, two steals, and two swats.
The win was a welcome sight for the Squires’ debuting mentor Willie Miller– himself a former Letran standout and a two-time PBA MVP– who took the helm in March 2024 and is looking to steer the squad to a rare three-peat.
“Nakakatuwa… coaching for your alma mater, yun ang pinakamasarap,” he said in a post-game interview with GMA Regional TV and Synergy.
The rookie coach utilized his entire 15-man rotation, letting every single Squire on the bench to post minutes– possibly a unique coaching imprint that he intends to implement as a “player-first” tactician in their title defense bid.
“Player-first tayo, ang gusto natin masaya yung players at matutulungan natin sila. We need to help the players to achieve their fullest potential, it doesn't mean na kailangan lagi babad, kailangan lang nandyan ang opportunities,” added Miller.
Last season’s finalist Perpetual Junior Altas took down a resilient Mapúa Red Robins squad in a hard-fought battle, 86-80, on the backs of Lebron Jhames Daep (20p 9r 3a 3b), Jan Roluna (15p 5r 4a 4s), and Icee Callangan (11p 4r 6a).
Down three entering the second half, the Las Piñas-based squad banked on their 33-point explosion in the third frame, but had to dig deep to contain the Red Robins’ scoring run in the final canto.
Top performer Lebron Jhames Daep said that the win is only the start, as they hope to continue their winning ways until they reach the finals anew.
“Talagang pinaghirapan namin ito, and ibubuhos namin yung best namin. Gusto ko lang sa games namin yung uuwi kami na walang regrets at binigay namin best namin,” he told GMA RTV and Synergy.
Meanwhile, the Arellano Braves took care of business in their season opener against the JRU Light Bombers, 85-69, powered by Elijah Yusi and Shawn Vergara’s 15 points apiece.
Sean Franco dropped 12 points and eight rebounds, while Denver Baluyot contributed 10 points, five boards, and three steals– proving to be a solid supporting duo to their main scorers.
“Good start po and good sign po para matuloy ang binabago naming culture from last season. We’re trying to change the culture this Season 100 and sana sa next games magtuloy-tuloy yung momentum,” said Yusi in a post-game interview.
The fourth contest on opening day between CSB-La Salle Green Hills and San Sebastian went the Greenies’ way, 82-79, in thrilling fashion.
The Greenies were down big after two quarters, but procured a massive fourth quarter performance laced with clutch baskets and crucial defensive stops to escape the Sanlea Penaverde and Kit Bonus-led Staglets.
“Tinrabaho namin simula talaga sa dugout kasi kinausap namin yung isa't isa kung paano namin ta-trabahuhin to, kung pano makakabalik sa game na ito,” said top scorer Guillian Quines, who collected 22 points on nine of nine shooting from the freethrow line despite being hobbled by foul trouble.
“Naupo ako sa crucial minutes, so pinagdasal ko nalang yung team ko na mag show up sila. Tumatakbo sa utak ko, nanggigigil ako, gusto ko makabawi, pero binigyan naman ako ng coach ko (Renren Ritualo) ng pagasa makabawi nung [last] three minutes,” recalled Quines.
The final bout on opening day between the San Beda Red Cubs and the EAC Brigadiers needed an extra period to be settled, as the Red Cubs ultimately squeezed out a 77-75 victory in overtime.
San Beda found themselves down by four with under a minute remaining in the extra period, but managed to tie the game at 75 with an MJ Vailoces floater and a fastbreak layup by Ugaddan off a costly turnover by Season 99 Mythical 5 member EJ Castillo.
SBU's Andrei Ugaddan, Francis Dollente, and Randaile Medoroso combined for 40 points to effectively counter the 31-point explosion of EAC’s Ian Cuajao.
“Defense po talaga, kasi yung defense– yun talaga magpa-panalo sa laro. Tiwala lang sa sarili and sa teammates,” said Ugaddan.
(with reports from Ian Zane Esparaga/GMA Regional TV and Synergy)
