At A Glance
- Perpetual head coach Olsen Racela revealed his 20-man pool for the upcoming NCAA Season 101 men's basketball tournament which is set to open on Oct. 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Perpetual head coach Olsen Racela revealed his 20-man pool for the upcoming NCAA Season 101 men's basketball tournament which is set to open on Oct. 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Led by John Cedrick Abis, who was recently selected by Barangay Ginebra as the No. 23 pick in the PBA Rookie Draft, the Atlas boast a lineup that includes John Paul Boral, Jearico Nuñez, seniors Shawn Orgo and Angelo Gelsano, and sophomores Mark Derick Gojo Cruz and Emman Pizarro.
Transferees Patrick Sleat and Kevin Guibao from FEU, LA Casinillo from NU, JM Talabut, Josh Alcantara and Allen Maglupay from UE and brothers Kenji Duremde and Kylle Magdangal from UST are eligible to play after going through a one-year residence period.
Aries Borja, JD Pagulayan, Jan Roluna, Jericho Cristino and Kelsey Baldoria from the defending champion Junior Altas will be eligible to play directly after their juniors stint.
"The five rookies have shown good performance in practice and in their games, I see a bright future for the team in our program," Racela said in an interview. "We are playing in as many games as we can, invitational tournaments like in Cebu and Tacloban and FilOil. It is very crucial for chemistry."
Team Manager Anton Tamayo's Las Piñas team will be tested in their first game of the season against San Sebastian on Oct. 3 at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Perpetual hopes to make it to the Final Four this season after failing to make it last year.