SAN BEDA was missing serious firepower in what was supposed to be its close out game against St. Benilde in the NCAA Season 101 semifinals on Friday.
The Red Lions had to make do without their superb scorer Janti Miller, who sat out the potential finals clincher due to a right knee contusion.
San Beda was in dire need of Miller’s scoring, especially after the Fil-Am guard dropped 29 points in their game one 91-72 blowout on Tuesday.
However, the Red Lions shotcaller decided to rest the guard out of Fairfield California.
“Last game yun, tingin ko yung last fall niya kay Gaspay. Kanina chineck siya ng doctor sa dugout, sabi niya meron siyang slight contusion,” said head coach Yuri Escueta after their 75-77 loss due to an Ian Torres game winner.
READ: Torres saves Benilde's season in comeback vs Miller-less San Beda
“Career niya yan and yung health niya yan. So pinapahinga lang namin siya. Day-to-day siya for now, it depends on yung feeling niya when it comes Sunday.”
Miller will continue to be monitored ahead of their do-or-die match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Hopefully with the help of yung PT namin and yung doctor namin we get him back on Sunday,” Escueta said.
A cleaner hunt
Even in the absence of their go-to guy, San Beda still didn’t make things easier for themselves in this game.
While Nygel Gonzales and Bryan Sajonia stepped up to the plate, dropping 17 and 16 points, respectively, the latter’s play was hindered down the stretch due to foul trouble.
Aside from Sajonia, San Beda’s starting big Joe Celzo was also on the verge of fouling out, leaving them tiptoeing down in the paint.
With the Red Lions creating more problems than solutions, Escueta called for more composure ahead of their knockout game on Sunday, regardless if Miller plays or not.
“It’s hard to play when you have your key players on the bench. So, something you can control is probably not fouling your opponents. We have to play more disciplined in terms of defense,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga we almost won with our key players nakaupo sa bench nakaupo sa game. We have to keep them inside.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
