Perpetual Help had to navigate a major setback during the offseason when Patrick Sleat, Olsen Racela’s trusted all-around forward since their days at Far Eastern University, decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and turn professional with San Juan.

The departure left a significant hole for the Altas, with Sleat having played a key role in steering Perpetual Help to a Final Four appearance in NCAA Season 101.

But rather than dwell on the loss, Racela and his players used the offseason to prepare for a new-look campaign, with the Altas gradually finding their footing after an opening-day defeat to Letran.

“Noong summer, we adjusted already, and the players knew that it was up to them that we lost six players, but this is their opportunity now so I think lahat sila they’re just grabbing the opportunity na binigay sa kanila,” said Racela.

Perpetual Help has since built momentum, winning two straight games after beating San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 86-74, on Monday.

The Altas have also received timely contributions from several players who have embraced bigger roles in the absence of their departed veterans.

After Mark Gojo Cruz powered Perpetual Help past Emilio Aguinaldo College last Thursday, LA Casinillo and JM Tulabut took charge against the Stags when San Sebastian threatened to pull off an upset.

“It just shows, I guess, that anyone can step up. I think si Jim Corpuz played quality minutes also today and like I always tell them, you just have to be ready single every time doesn’t matter kung sino nasa bench and do whatever you can to help the team,” Racela added.

Tulabut led all scorers with 18 points and three rebounds, while Casinillo chipped in 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals to help the Altas secure the 86-74 victory.

With Perpetual Help potentially losing another key contributor in JD Pagulayan, who is set to receive a diagnosis for his injury on Tuesday, the importance of relying on one another has only grown.

For Racela, however, the foundation for that mentality was already laid during the offseason.

“I think the work we put in was done in the summer, and they realized when I told them that we shouldn’t be talking about those who are not here, that we should be focusing on the players that are right here.”

The post Pat Sleat’s departure forces Perpetual Help to find new answers appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Some comparisons are earned through championships, others through the way players impose themselves on the court.

For National University big men Kenshin Padrones and PJ Palacielo, their stocky frames, physicality, and low-post grit have already drawn comparisons to Rain or Shine’s iconic “Extra Rice” duo of Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan.

That has earned the Bulldogs pair a fitting moniker of their own: “Extra Half Rice.”

Still carving out their own careers, Padrones and Palacielo have embraced the comparisons to Belga and Quiñahan, who won two PBA championships together with the Elasto Painters under coach Yeng Guiao.

On Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, the NU duo showed why the comparison has stuck, combining for 20 points and 19 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ 76-56 victory over the University of the East.

After the win, Palacielo pointed to the similarities in their playing styles with the beloved PBA veterans.

“Sa totoo lang, masaya,” said Palacielo after NU’s 76-56 win over UE. “Kasi, ayun nga, um, knowing na kami ni Kenshin, talagang sa puso kaming naglalaro—‘yong mga float, mga piso-piso, mga power moves sa loob. At naalala ko rin ‘yong duo ni Quiñahan at ni Belga, napapanood ko rin ‘yun dati.

“Ito, masasabi ko talaga na parang ganun kami dati. Kasi, um, may sarili kaming strength ni Kenshin, e. Magagawa naman namin ang lahat ng chance sa court. ‘’Yan talaga ‘yung strength namin, ‘yong talagang bakbakan sa loob ng paint,” he continued.

“Sa defending, mabigat talaga kami ni Kenshin pagka defenders kami sa post. Mai-intimidate ka talaga ‘pag nasa loob kami. Proper defense lang at contain lang siya.”

While the comparison is flattering, both players remain grounded in their development.

Having come a long way since their rookie campaigns in Season 85, Padrones and Palacielo understand that their roles as NU’s veteran big men require them to push each other every day, with the ultimate goal of helping the Bulldogs capture their first UAAP championship since Season 77.

For Padrones, that growth starts in practice, where the two big men constantly challenge one another to become better.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

“Siguro kulang pa, kasi mas kailangan pa namin pagbutihin para sa susunod na games,” said Padrones. “Isang karangalan ‘yung mahalintulad kina Kuya Beau at kay Kuya Quiñahan. Isang karangalan ‘yan para sa akin.

“Ginagawa namin ni PJ, bilang mga veteran na big man, ang mga pinapagawa ni Coach Jeff (Napa) kasi, ‘yun nga, tulad ng mga maraming magagaling na bigs, siguro ginagawa ko lang kung saan ako mas effective. Nagiging competitive kami sa practice at, siyempre, hindi namin pinagbibigyan ang isa’t isa para mas gumaling kami.”

NU still has plenty of work to do before it can seriously think about ending its 12-year title drought.

After opening Season 89 with a loss to De La Salle University last week, the Bulldogs bounced back against UE, but the result also highlighted areas they still need to address—particularly their ability to play consistent basketball from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

As two of the team’s veteran leaders, Padrones and Palacielo are eager to guide their younger teammates toward the same kind of success Belga and Quiñahan enjoyed together with Rain or Shine.

“Tulad ng sabi ni Coach Jeff (Napa), hindi ito ‘yung result na gusto namin pero malaking boost ‘to sa amin para sa next game kasi galing kami (sa) talo,” said Padrones.

“Kumbaga parang tulong sa amin para makabalik sa kung ano man ‘yun.”

For Palacielo, however, leadership is not about placing themselves above the rest of the team.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, pare-parehas lang naman tayong players,” said Palacielo.

“Senior niyo lang kami at makikinig kayo sa amin, pero pagdating sa court, pare-parehas lang tayong players. Hopefully, madala talaga namin. Kasi sinabi ko, kailangan talaga lahat mag-contribute sa team.”

The post Kenshin Padrones, PJ Palacielo embrace ‘Extra Half Rice’ tag appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran steamrolled San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 99-62, to stretch its unbeaten start in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

With the victory, Letran improved to 2-0 for sole possession of first place in the Group B standings, while San Sebastian extended its losing streak to six games, including four carried over from last season. The Stags fell to 0-2 and remained at the bottom of the group.

Earlier in the day, the league canceled the first game of Friday’s doubleheader between Jose Rizal University and San Beda University after heavy rains in the San Juan area caused condensation and water buildup on the playing surface, rendering the court unsafe for competition.

Conditions later improved, allowing the second game to proceed as scheduled.

In the second quarter, Letran’s stifling defense forced San Sebastian to search for answers as the Knights went on an 8-0 run before the Stags finally ended their scoring drought with a Khit Barroga triple with 4:33 remaining in the period.

The Knights kept their foot on the gas on both ends of the floor, with Titing Manalili converting a layup off an inbound steal to stretch their lead to 22 points at halftime, 49-27.

Letran continued to punish the Stags in the third frame, with Manalili feeding Chad Gammad for a reverse layup that gave the Knights a 69-39 advantage.

San Sebastian remained buried in a deep hole as Letran carried a 75-47 lead into the final period.

The Knights’ balanced attack proved too much for the Stags in the fourth quarter, as Letran cruised to the 37-point victory.

Letran will next face Arellano University on Monday, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m. at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

San Sebastian, meanwhile, will take on the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the same San Juan venue.

The post Letran routs San Sebastian by 37, stays unbeaten in NCAA appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.