PLAYING in his first official San Beda - Letran rivalry game, Janti Miller admitted that he’s still yet to fully adjust with the noise and the atmosphere brought upon the banging drums and the energy of the crowd of both schools in the packed Playtime Filoil Center.
“It was fun because the crowd is going back and forth and I’m still getting used to the drums, the drums are banging all the time, I can’t hear sometimes so I’ll still have to get used to it,” Miller admitted when asked about his first rivalry match in the NCAA Season 101.
What he’s already used to though is playing winning basketball, evident in his performance in the Red Lions’ 68-58 win over their longtime rivals in the Knights on Sunday to help San Beda improve to 2-0 in Group B, the so-called ‘Group of Death.’
READ: Janti Miller clutch as San Beda scores one over rival Letran
Miller finished with 22 points on 8-14 shooting while adding five rebounds and two assists in the game.
This includes two huge plays down the stretch – a block on Letran’s Mark Omega which would've drawn the Knights to within four, and the game-sealing basket on the next possession to preserve the win for the Red Lions.
The 21-year-old winger shared how he was so excited to ball out considering that he was hearing about this rivalry match ever since landing here in the Philippines after flying out from the Bay Area in California.
“Since I was doing residency, for as soon as I landed, they’ve been saying ‘Letran, Letran, Letran’ and it’s a rivalry, so to wait a year, to practice and [prepare during] the whole preseason, to finally be here, it’s an honor, it feels fun out there,” he said.
And Letran certainly didn’t disappoint him in this match-up.
“Letran is tough. That’s what I would say,” he stated.
“We had a game plan and we had to be locked in the whole week. Actually out there, they almost came back on us so we had to regroup, just counter everything they do.”
In the first two games which had the Red Lions beating two contenders in St. Benilde and Letran, Miller’s been on the forefront of San Beda’s attack – posting averages of 19 points a game while shooting a healthy 50 percent clip to go along 5.5 boards. He's also done his part defensively while he's at it.
So far, so good for coach Yuri Escueta.
“Di ko sinasabing inexpect ko but it’s something I wished for, siyempre as a coach gusto mo makita yung player mo na ganyan,” Escueta said.
“But hindi lang sa offensive side ako nag expect and pati narin sa defensive side and mas happy ako na nakikita ko sa kanya yun ngayon,” he added.
Still, Escueta is making sure to keep his player grounded knowing that teams are gonna be throwing a whole lot more at his prized recruit moving forward.
“Sabi ko sa kanya after the game just stay humble kasi matagal pa tong season na’to,” he shared.
“Maaga pa. I’m sure he’s gonna see different kinds of defense. Yun nga, the best way to handle it is for him to stay grounded.”
Janti's born ready
Humility, for sure, isn’t an issue for Miller who, despite being San Beda’s biggest recruit in this class, has willingly accepted a bench role.
“I’m very impressed with how Janti’s handling it being off the bench, especially sa talent and caliber niya na inaaccept niya yung role niya coming off the bench,” he said.
“He has accepted yung role na’to with open arms na wala kang nakikitang remorse, basta pag pinasok mo siya off the bench ready siya. Dun ako very pleased na he is humble enough to accept yung role coming off the bench.”
When asked about his bench role, Miller just basically shrugged it off as he knows that whether he starts, or he comes off the bench, the most important thing is his impact in the game when he gets on the floor.
“It doesn’t really matter whether I come off the bench, whether I start or not, when I get out there, it’s just go time,” he shared.
“So whenever coach puts me out there, I just go and start my connection [with my teammates] so it doesn’t really matter to me.”
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