Altas enter PBA D-League

MANILA, Philippines – The Perpetual Help Altas are bringing their act to the Philippine Basketball Association’s D-League.

On a rebuilding process after parting ways with Nigerian star Bright Akhuetie early this year, Perpetual Help seeks to gain experience it hopes to toughen up the team when it plunges back into NCAA action next season.

Without the do-it-all Akhutie, who transferred to University of the Philippines, the Las Pinas-based school finished at joint eighth with College of St. Benilde on 4-14 (win-loss) records and eventually missed the Final Four after coming one game away from making the finals a year ago.

Now the Altas are implementing measures to get back into Final Four form.

“We’re joining the D-League to toughen the players and team as a whole and gain experience,” said Perpetual Help consultant Nosa Omorogbe.

Perpetual Help will field in a crack team headed by veterans 6-11 Nigerian Prince Eze, who missed the NCAA MVP plum but ended up with a slot in the First Mythical Team, AJ Coronel, Kieth Pido, Jack Hao and Antonio Tamayo.

The Altas will also tap newcomers Edgar Charcos from University of the East, Krystoffe Jimenez from Far Eastern U and Anthony Peralta from Cagayan de Oro among others.

Also getting a slot in the squad were Danreb Antonio, Julius Tiburcio, Kim Aurin, Jerome Pacia, Jonmarc Precillas, Isidro Salvador, Marcus Tongco, Jonrey Villanueva, Rommel Mangalino and Carl Soriano.

Newly crowned San Beda, which was represented by Cignal, honed its players spearheaded by Robert Bolick and Javee Mocon in the D-League.

Like Perpetual Help, rivals NCAA runner up Lyceum of the Philippines U, Jose Rizal and St. Benilde are also participating.

The next D-League conference is scheduled in January next year.