Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Akhuetie believes Perpetual better this season


The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas were pegged as one of the front-runners to win the NCAA Season 91 Seniors Basketball crown. With Scottie Thompson at point and legitimate big men in Prince Eze and Bright Akhuetie, the Altas were the favorites to end the San Beda Red Lion dynasty.

However, the Las Piñas squad did not make it to the Final Four, falling a game shy of, at the very least, gaining a do-or-die game for the fourth spot in the rankings. In addition, with triple-double machine Thompson graduating and veteran head coach Aric del Rosario retiring, everything looked bleak for the Altas.

With foreign head coach and former Altas Nic Omorogbe at the helm, Perpetual have been on a tear in the 2016 Filoil Flying V Preseason Tournament, going unbeaten in their first four games that included match-ups against National University and NCAA rivals Arellano University. More impressively, during that four game stretch, the team’s scoring came from almost everyone.

Filoil-2016-UPHSD-vs.-EAC-Dagangon-1508 Akhuetie believes Perpetual better this season Basketball NCAA News UPHSD  - philippine sports news

Perpetual gunslinger Gab Dagangon has been one of the more prolific scorers in the preseason

“Well, I think we’re a little better than last year. I don’t have to do much,” said Nigerian student-athlete Bright Akhuetie about this year’s Altas. “Actually, we’re better now since we have a lot of players who have gained experience and better conditioned which is good.”

Besides changes in the coaching staff, the Altas did some reloading to the team, with Daryl Singontiko and Chester Saldua ending their residency after transferring from Letran. “It’s still the same system as Coach Aric’s,” Akhuetie shared. “Nothing’s changed.”

The change within the team that the 19-year-old had noticed was that everybody in the team is taking on the leadership role that Thompson left. “We’re all the leaders. Anyone can be the best guy right now, anybody can be the man,” he said.

NCAA-91-MIT-vs.-UPHSD-Thompson Akhuetie believes Perpetual better this season Basketball NCAA News UPHSD  - philippine sports news

Former King Altas Scottie Thompson

Moreover, the pressure to be the best player night-in and night-out does not faze Akhuetien, who said, “I’m not out there to be the best. I can be the best but my team won’t win.”

“It’s not about being the best but being able to push my teammates to be better. That’s what I’m all about.”

After being with UAAP champions Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng, and NCAA champion Ola Adeogun during the off-season, Big Bright is now driven more than ever to bring home a crown to Perpetual. “We’re taking it one step at a time but I’m hopeful that we can win this right now,” he said.

#ReadMore  Jefner Egan breaks out as Perpetual survives Diliman for 1st win

“Every time, every day that’s all I think about. At least we should bring one championship to Perpetual.”

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

University of Perpetual Help System DALTA closed out its NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament campaign with a bang, stunning Jose Rizal University, 86-82,...

Basketball

San Sebastian College-Recoletos extinguished the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament Final Four hopes of University of Perpetual Help System DALTA with an 83-72...

Basketball

By: Brenn Allen Flores Cyrus Cuenco led Mapúa University to a 71-57 victory over the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the NCAA...

Basketball

College of Saint Benilde built a sizable lead in the first three quarters, holding on just enough to secure a 61-56 victory over University...

Basketball

In a crucial showdown between two schools aiming to secure a spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament,...

ADMU

Just like that, the Philippine collegiate basketball season is approaching its most exciting phase, with the Final Four just weeks away in both the...

AU

Arellano University continued its resurgence in the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament, defeating University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 66-59, on Tuesday at...

Basketball

By: Bjorn del Deade Yukien Andrada led San Beda University to victory over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 57-53, to remain in solo...

Advertisement