LETRAN’s title hopes may have just received a shot in the arm after San Beda star Janti Miller incurred two technical fouls in Game One of the NCAA Season 101 Finals last Wednesday.
While Miller’s ejection didn’t revive the Knights in the slightest, as the game was all but lost at that point, the Fil-Am wing will be suspended for the next contest - a penalty that, due to FIBA rules and the nature of his technical fouls, has ‘no need for review’ according to league commissioner Atty. Rico Quicho.
READ: Janti confident San Beda can close out series even without him
With Miller limited to cheering on his teammates come Saturday, Letran will undoubtedly have the upper hand in terms of completeness, as it tries to even the series.
“Malaking bagay yun kasi nawalan din sila ng mga 18 to 25 points. At least, mababawasan yung babantayan namin,” said head coach Allen Ricardo on the heels of their 70-89 loss.
Ricardo’s prized rookie Titing Manalili shared the same sentiment, but still honed in on their own faults that further doomed them to a 19-point blowout.
“Siyempre, malaking tulong sa amin yun kung wala man siya. Pero 'di naman namin tine-take advantage yung ganon. Trabaho pa rin kami, andyan man siya o wala,” he said.
The Lion is most dangerous when cornered
Of course, outside of the forced absence of the hardest Red Lion to contain on the court, major adjustments must also be made by the Knights to put themselves in a better position in the coming must-win game.
The Intramuros ballers didn't help themselves when Manalili also had to head to the bench with five fouls in the fourth quarter, as their dependable big in Aaron Buensalida followed shortly after.
As Ricardo assessed, “Siyempre, napakaimportante yung mga key players natin, matapos nila yung game, you know? Yung mga useless fouls, yung mga unnecessary, dapat hindi na namin napapa-call. Kasi sayang eh.”
“Kailangan malaman namin ulit yung purpose, impact, and consequence nung ginagawa namin para meron kaming better chance again to bounce back. Siyempre, yung room for errors, medyo manipis lang eh.”
For Manalili, though, the key to staying in the series goes beyond just avoiding unnecessary fouls. All in all, it's about staying composed amid the intensity of this age-old rivalry.
“At least, na-feel ko na ngayon para sa Game Two, aware na ako kung ano yung gagawin ko. Medyo kasi kanina, talagang relaxed ako," he said.
"So at least alam ko na kung ano yung mangyayari kung mag-relax ako. Babawi kami kung andyan man siya o wala”
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