By: Jerod Orcullo
University of Perpetual Help’s quest to avenge its finals loss last season got off to a less-than-optimal start as it squeezed past a hot-shooting Mapua University squad, 86-80, last Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Despite the shaky season opener, the Junior Altas’ prized big man, Lebron Jhames Daep, showcased his potential. He stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and a steal.
Mapua led by as many as 14 points at the 3:46 mark of the first quarter, but Daep’s presence on both ends of the floor allowed his squad to flip the script by the time the third quarter rolled around.
“Nabigla kami, kasi ayun nga, nag-prepare din pala yung Mapua ng grabe sa amin. Pero actually, mabuti rin na handa rin kami, kasi kung hindi kami handa, malamang na-overwhelm kami,” Daep shared in an interview with Tiebreaker Times.
The top high school prospect in the class of 2025 acknowledged that their team had expected other NCAA squads to come in prepared this season, which is why they also intensified their training during the offseason.
“Ang expectation namin is yung mga kalaban namin mas nag-prepare sila. So kami, mas dumiin kami sa training, mas go hard kami. Trinetreat namin yung training na parang game para pagdating ng season, parang training lang din,” the 6-foot-7 big man from Legazpi City, Albay said.
With the departures of NCAA Season 99 Juniors’ MVP Amiel Acido to the UST Growling Tigers and Mark Gojo Cruz to Perpetual’s seniors squad, Daep now stands as one of the leaders of the title-hungry Junior Altas.
Coming off a finals berth and a tough three-game loss against the Letran Squires last year, Daep hopes that his team will leave everything on the floor this season.
“Ang hope ko lang na ma-achieve is yung mindset namin pagtapos ng season is wala kaming regrets sa lahat ng ginawa namin kasi binigay namin yung best namin,” the 18-year-old expressed.
As for his looming college destination, he maintained that he is solely focused on this season.
Daep has gained interest from the top universities in the UAAP, according to multiple sources.
“Actually, hindi ko pa po iniisip yan. Focus po muna ako dito, kasi gusto kong tapusin ng maayos ‘tong season na ‘to.”
