AGE-OLD rivals are set to renew their feud with everything on the line, as Letran and San Beda face off in the NCAA Season 101 Finals.
With all at stake for each team and player, Titing Manalili’s crusade to restore respect for the Knights continues, this time with their fiercest foes at the other end of the court.
READ: Letran coming to collect in finals, whether San Beda or Benilde
But aside from opponents like Janti Miller, Yukien Andrada, and Bryan Sajonia, another formidable foe is firmly entrenched in Manalili’s shortlist of those to overcome.
That, of course, is the Red Lions' sixth man.
That is even truer, as more than a few red-and-white fans discredited Letran's victory vs. its archrivals back in the eliminations, as San Beda was missing both Sajonia and Jomel Puno.
In that rivalry game, Miller and Manalili both delivered career-highs of 34 and 26, respectively, but it was the latter and his team who went home with the 87-83 win.
“Yun nga, hindi kasi sila kumpleto nung naglaro kami, so baka sasabihin ng mga tao na kaya nanalo kami kasi kulang sila,” said Manalili.
“So ito, finals na, I hope kumpleto sila and makumpleto din kami. Yung may mga sakit sa amin, maging ok na para at least, pagdating ng Game One, healthy lahat and mabigyan namin ng magandang laban yung mga nanonood.”
Knights out for blood
Though the stellar guard out of Cebu has had his fair share of title runs going back to his days as a Letran Squire, nothing could have matched, or even come close to, the stakes of this upcoming series.
Not only is Manalili entering this championship round as a rookie, he will also have his first shot at a seniors trophy during the most intense rivalry in basketball.
“Siyempre, rivalry, maraming crowd talaga. Dati pa yan, duguan talaga yung laban. Sabi naman namin sa team, kahit sino naman, paghahandaan namin. Kasi nga, both teams parang malakas," he said, also giving credit to the Benilde team the Red Lions prevailed over.
“So balik kami sa ensayo, focus kami, and scout-in namin yung San Beda o ano yung ginagawa nila para sa next game, makasabay kami sa kanila.”
And because the diligent Knights made the extra effort of being in attendance for San Beda's triumph over the Blazers in the do-or-die duel, the 21-year-old guard has already begun preparing a few tricks up his sleeve.
READ: San Beda brings fire extinguisher in title duel vs red-hot Letran
“Need namin i-stop yung outside three-points nila. Kasi nga, sobra talagang pumupukol sila sa labas, kitang-kita namin. So yun, pag-aralan namin yun pa'no namin sila mai-stop, para at least, 'di sila makakabwelo,” he said, referring to the Red Lions' 11-of-27 clip from outside.
“Ano man mangyari, paghahandaan namin para ibigay ang lahat sa court.”
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.
