Perpetual Help’s new coach Antonio Tamayo will make his debut when the Altas take on title-contenders Arellano University Chiefs on Sunday in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“We’re confident of our chances this coming NCAA season,” Tamayo, who is also the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA school owner, said.
Tamayo’s basketball resume includes playing for the University of Santo Tomas high school team and a former teammate of the coach he will be succeeding, Aric del Rosario.
Nigerian Nic Omorogbe, actually handled the team during the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup where the Las Pinas-based school finished in the quarterfinals before losing to Ateneo. Omorogbe willl serve as the team’s lead assistant coach together with Jimwell Gican and Jonas Kintanar.
Perpetual Altas assistant coach Nic Omorogbe
“I have to give it to him (Omorogbe), he handled the team well while I was away,” Tamayo remarked about Omorogbe.
The Altas will be looking at making up for a heartbreaking sixth place effort last year by gunning for a return trip to the Final Four where they made it three straight times under del Rosario’s tutelage.
Perpetual gunslinger Gab Dagangon
Despite its Final Four absence a season ago and losing del Rosario and former league MVP Scottie Thompson, Perpetual Help will remain as a serious title contender after keeping their two towering Nigerians student-athletes Bright Akhuetie and Prince Eze. Moreover, Gab Dagangon has stepped up to fill that huge Thompson void during the pre-season.
Remnants from last year’s squad include Nikoli Cabiltes, Gerald Dizon, Antonio Coronel, Ric Gallardo, Kevin Oliveria, Flash Sadiwa, Keith Pido and John Ylagan.
Transderees Daryl Singontiko and Jonathan Andrew Yuhico are also pegged to have a bigger role in the current Perpetual Altas squad.
