University of Perpetual Help System DALTA defied the odds to be crowned as the first-ever Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) Champions.

The Junior Altas completed a come-from-behind 96-93 victory against National University-Nazareth School during their winner-take-all Finals clash on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the MGC New Life Christian Academy Gym in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Jericho Cristino shone the brightest in the NCAA vs. UAAP affair, with the young forward making a name for himself in the most important game of the tourney that was presented by URATEX, Jollibee, Strong Group Athletics, and in partnership with JETOUR, World Balance, and Molten as official game ball.

“Napakasaya po namin na nakuha po namin yung gusto namin,” said the 19-year-old forward from Leyte who posted 21 points (5/12 3pts) and a steal against the Collins Akowe-led Bullpups frontline en route to being hailed as the NGBL’s first-ever Finals MVP. 

“Dahil po ‘to sa pinaghirapan at mga sakripisyo namin, pero ‘di ko naman po inasahan na ako yung magiging Finals MVP. ‘Di ko naman po iniisip yung mga score ko, talagang ginawa ko lang po yung best ko para makatulong sa team,” he added of his performance - his best game in the tournament - in the W that allowed them to also bring home the P300,000 cash prize. 

Down 69-55 with only 4:39 left in the third quarter following a basket by Sean Solomon, the Las Piñas-based cagers went back to form and retaliated with a 19-to-5 charge after Cristino, JD Pagulayan, Jim Corpuz, and Lebron Jhames Daep, took turns in hitting deuces and triples to eventually tie the game at 74 before the payoff period opened. 

“Nung down na kami ng 14, sabi ko sa kanila na let’s just cut this down to five before the end of the third,” said Perpetual head coach Joph Cleopas, who was also named as the Best Coach of the NGBL.

“Pero tinabla pa nila eh. Kaya nung tied na, sabi ko sa kanila: ‘Ito na yung magiging biggest what if niyo ‘pag ‘di niyo ‘to kinuha.' Kaya ang nangyari, lahat ng bola, possession by possession na kami. Sinabi ko sa kanila: ‘Pag andyan na yung bola sa harap niyo, i-pressure niyo na yan.' Tapos nakuha na talaga lahat namin, rebounds, naka-depensa kami, naka-stop kami, at naka takbo na kami.’ Kaya ayun, Praise God na nakalamang na kami.”

Both squads went on to exchange hits in the fourth quarter, with Akowe and Macmac Alfanta doing the most damage for NU-Nazareth, while Cristino was joined by Season MVP Jan Roluna and Icee Calangan to do the heavy lifting for UPHSD, even as the Bullpups regained their composure and put up a gallant last stand in the endgame.

The 6-foot-10 Akowe, who was named as the Best Foreign Student-Athlete, imposed his way into the defenders of Perpetual, and his basket at the 1:31 mark off a miss by JM Palanca gave his team a vital 93-92 advantage.

However, Calangan would not let the Junior Altas’ erstwhile 9-0 record in the league which was also supported by MET Food Corporation, official hydration partners Gatorade & Summit Natural Drinking Water, Converge as official internet provider, and Crocs, get blemished with the championship on the line.

The 5-foot-10, 19-year-old spitfire guard drained a crucial three-pointer with only 1:28 left in the game off an assist by Daep, and he was also fouled by Roje Matias in doing so. Calangan completed the four-point play for a 96-93 lead, and it was all Perpetual’s defense that worked from that point on. 

Matias looked to tie the game at the 55-second mark, while Alfanta had another chance to send the game to overtime with a last-second shot, but both tries of National U guards missed the bottom of the net. The latter's failed attempt was even ruled as a two as his foot was on the line. These, in turn, resulted in the Kevin De Castro-mentored team absorbing their second defeat against Perpetual.

Coincidentally, they both opened and closed out their NGBL campaign with losses against the same squad, their only two defeats in the tournament. They finished with an 8-2 overall record.