Junior Altas gear up for title defense in NCAA Season 101

The University of Perpetual Help is preparing to defend its first-ever juniors basketball championship in the National Collegiate Athletic Association as Season 101 opens on October 1, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Junior Altas head coach Joph Cleopas emphasized the importance of rigorous training, stating that the team must win every practice and game. He expressed confidence in the players' effort but noted that results are not guaranteed, especially as other teams are focused on defeating the defending champions.

Cleopas highlighted that off-season games revealed the team's shortcomings, serving as a barometer for necessary adjustments. He stressed the strategy of taking one game at a time, studying opponents, and focusing on the team's capabilities, while acknowledging that rivals like San Beda and La Salle Greenhills are closely monitoring them.

The team will have only seven holdovers from the championship roster, including Louie Rosales, Kurt Velasquez, and Lance Nitura, among others. Key player Lebron Jhames Daep, the Season and Finals MVP, has moved to De La Salle University for his senior year.

Due to a schedule change reverting to a juniors-seniors game format, the Junior Altas have only five months of preparation instead of a full year. Cleopas noted the compressed timeline but expressed confidence in new recruits stepping up when needed.

This season will feature a group format, with Perpetual Help in Group A alongside Mapua, Lyceum, San Sebastian, and Arellano University. Group B includes Letran, San Beda, La Salle Greenhills, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and Jose Rizal University.

The Junior Altas will begin their title defense against the San Sebastian Staglets on October 3 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.