JD Pagulayan says NCAA Season 99 finals heartbreak will be Junior Altas’ fuel

Published March 25, 2024 7:32pm

Updated March 25, 2024 7:32pm

JD Pagulayan, one of the holdovers for the Perpetual Junior Altas next year, said they will turn their NCAA Season 99 finals heartbreak into fuel that can ignite their campaign come Season 100.

“Mas lalong didiin pa next season para makuha talaga namin ‘yung gusto namin,” Pagulayan said on the heels of their heartbreaking Game 3 loss to Letran last Saturday.

[We’ll work even harder next season so that we can achieve what we really want.]

The 6-foot-1 sharpshooter left it all on the court in their Season 99 run, emerging as one of the best scorers for coach Joph Cleopas as they nearly swept the elimination round with an 8-1 card.

Pagulayan was their third leading scorer before the playoff round with 14.11 points on top of 4.67 rebounds, 3.78 assists, and 0.89 steals. But the 18-year-old guard made sure to save his best for last with his remarkable performances in their best-of-three finals affair against the Squires.

Pagulayan was Perpetual’s top scorer in the championship series with 18.67 markers, 7 boards, 2.67 assists, and one steal. But his efforts went for naught this time as Letran completed their back-to-back.

Pagulayan, though, knew this setback would only make them stronger moving forward.

“Dito kami kukuha ng lakas para next season makabawi kami,” he added.

[We will draw strength from this next season so we can bounce back.]

He, alongside another holdover in Lebron Jhames Daep, are tipped to lead Perpetual in Season 100 with the likes of MVP Amiel Acido and Rookie of the Year Mark Gojo Cruz bidding the team goodbye to move up to the senior ranks.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News