MANILA, Philippines, November 9, 2026. The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas moved to 4-8 in NCAA Season 102 men's basketball after beating San Sebastian College-Recoletos last Friday, keeping their quarterfinal hopes alive heading into the final group-stage match against Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Tuesday.
The motto driving the Las Piñas squad comes straight from head coach Olsen Racela: the harder you work, the luckier you get.
According to GMA Network's courtside report, the victory over San Sebastian offered a glimmer of hope for an Altas team that has struggled this season after reaching the semifinals in Season 101. The uphill climb is real, and the coaching staff knows it.
Coaching Through Setback After Setback
Assistant coach Allan Albano did not sugarcoat the difficulty of keeping the locker room sharp during a losing stretch. Speaking in Filipino after the San Sebastian win, he laid out the challenge plainly.
“Medyo mahirap i-motivate ngayon 'yung Perpetual, especially na sunod-sunod 'yung setback namin. May chance kaming manalo pero sa dulo, pangit 'yung result kaya 'yun lang ang sinasabi lang sa kanila ni Coach Olsen is the harder you work, the luckier you get,” Albano said.
Roughly translated: it is tough to motivate the players when losses pile up, so Racela keeps hammering the same message. Work first, luck follows.
“Kaya yun lang din, every time na naglalaro itong mga ito, go hard and play smart and hopefully, ma-reward kami sa dulo,” he added.
That philosophy, go hard and play smart, is the entire game plan for a team that has watched winnable games slip away late. The staff wants effort to become habit before results become expectation.
Why the Winless Golden Stags Are Dangerous
Here is the paradox of Perpetual's situation: the easiest opponent on paper may be the hardest one on the court. San Sebastian enters the play-in tournament without a single win, and guard Mark Gojo Cruz believes that makes the Stags more dangerous, not less.
“Ipapakita ko na 'yung character ko, hindi ako yung kampante, kahit na may advantage kami. 'Yun' yung mga mahirap na kalaban na team, sa totoo lang, kasi winless, gigil talaga 'yan, may gusto talagang patunayan,” Gojo Cruz said.
A winless team, he explained, plays with desperation and pride. Nobody wants to end a season with a zero in the column, and the Stags fought back against Perpetual's early lead precisely to show their school they had not quit.
“Give credit din kasi sa San Sebastian, same din 'yung first game namin na maganda na 'yung lamang namin sa simula. They fought back para lang talagang 'yung pride nila mapakita nila to fight for their school,” Albano said of the same pattern.
The Road Back to the Semifinals
The Altas have not hidden their ambition. Albano said the team has talked openly about the sequence they need: survive the play-in, clear the quarterfinals, and return to the semifinals they reached in Season 101.
“'Yun din 'yung napag-usapan namin sa team na hopefully, 'yung pinakaimportanteng game ay makalampas kami, makatawid kami which is the play-in, then after the play-in, hopefully, makatawid din kami ng quarterfinals para makabalik ulit kami sa semis,” he said.
Gojo Cruz added that the coaching staff has framed the final group-stage games as preparation, since the same opponents could return in the play-in. His personal focus is not on scoring.
“Hindi ko din naman hinahanap 'yung offense, basta yung makapag-lead ako sa team and willingness ko sa defense,” he said.
Racela's message on blowouts is blunt. Perpetual cannot expect to blow anybody out, so the Altas must take the season day by day and possession by possession.
What Happens Next
Perpetual faces Letran on Tuesday to close the group stage, then meets San Sebastian again in the play-in tournament on Thursday. Win that, and the quarterfinal door opens toward the semifinals the Altas reached a year ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Perpetual's record in NCAA Season 102?
The Altas stand at 4-8 after defeating San Sebastian College-Recoletos last Friday, with one group-stage game remaining against Letran on Tuesday.
Who coaches the Perpetual Altas?
Olsen Racela is the head coach, with Allan Albano serving as assistant coach.
When does the NCAA Season 102 play-in tournament start?
Perpetual faces San Sebastian in the play-in tournament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after closing group play against Letran on Tuesday.