Perpetual Help upbeat on NCAA cage bid

MANILA, Philippines - After a forgettable season last year, everything looks bright for the Perpetual Help-DALTA System Altas in the forthcoming NCAA cage wars after finally getting the players they missed due to eligibility issues.

Perpetual Help coach Boris Aldeguer and the rest of the Altas will finally get to see talented and muscular big men in Paul Nuilan and Marlon Gomez after the two passed eligibility standards a year after they were prevented to play due to the same issue.

Nuilan and Gomez, the one-two frontcourt duo that made big waves in last year’s pre-season campaign by the Las Piñas-based school, will spearhead Perpetual Help’s campaign as the two will fight it out with the league best and finest centers including San Beda’s Sudan Daniel and San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva.

“We’re excited to have them in the team, they’re vital pieces for us because we don’t want to disappoint our school since we’re hosting the league this year,” said Perpetual Help coach Boris Aldeguer.

The Altas will be deeper this year with the prolific Arnold Danganan, their best scorer a season back, Jett Vidal and George Allen providing the other threat for a team out to finally nail their first ever crown in the oldest and one of the most prestigious leagues in the country today.

“Although we didn’t do well last year, we still fought to the last and the good thing about our campaign is that I saw my players playing with their hearts despite the tremendous odds,” said Aldeguer.

First goal for Perpetual Help is to find a way to sneak into the Final Four for the first time since they did the trick seven years ago when they eventually advanced to the best-of-three championships only to lose to the Philippine Christian U Dolphins, who are currently on indefinite leave.

“Our goal is to give it our best and fight it out with the best of them. Who wouldn’t want to play in the Final Four?” said Aldeguer.