Who wants it more?
THE NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball fiNALS SERIES WAS HYPED AS A BATTLE FOR HISTORY OR LEGACY. History for the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta which has not won a basketball crown — seniors or juniors — since joining the league in 1984.
The legacy is on the trackway of the Letran Squires who aim for a second straight championship and 14th overall in the league.
With the best-of-three series now tied at 1-all, you can throw the history or legacy storyline out the window because today’s game at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan City will be conquered by who wanted it more.
The Squires used their championship experience to dominate the Junior Altas in Game 1, 97-80, but Perpetual Help dug deep to its arsenal and escaped with a 91-90 victory in Game 2.
In the ongoing series, league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Amiel Acido has been limited by Letran’s defense. He scored 10 points in Game 1 but bounced back by scoring 19 points in Game 2, including a crucial triple at crunch time.
For today’s winner-take-all, Acido needs to be in his MVP self to give the Dr. Antonio Tamayo-owned squad its maiden championship.
Aside from Acido, Coach Joph Cleopas can also lean on Mythical Five member Lebron Jhames Daep and JD Pagulayan, who recorded a double-double performance of 23 points and 10 boards in Game 2.
Cleopas became emotional after taking Game 2 and lauded his team for not letting go of the fight until the end of the game.
“I thank God, I asked God for this, I promise him and acknowledge him, to share his word, God is the best, we have not done yet, I thank the boy, they fight, I am not the good, God is good” he said.
“I invite you all, my dear Perpetualites to support our team. Come and watch our game to give pride, we need you, win or lose, we want you to be here to support the Perpetual Help Junior Altas.”
Another player who needs to step up for Perpetual Help is Mark Gojo Cruz who was named in the league’s Mythical Five and Rookie of the Year.
Also named to the Mythical team were EJ Castillo of Emilio Aguinaldo College and George Diamante Jr. of Letran.
On the other side of the court, Coach Allen Ricardo and his boys aim to spoil the party for the Las Piñas-based team.
Letran also have the firepower to repeat as champions and will lean heavily on Diamante, Syrex Silorio and Jonathan Manalili, who waxed hot with 35 points in Game 1. Game time is 9:30 a.m.
So, where will the epicenter of the late morning celebration be? In Las Piñas or Intramuros?