TITING Manalili would rather take these battle scars now than later in the tournament.
Still not in peak form in his first game back from a sprained right knee, the Letran guard is willing to take these hits as long as it gets him prepared for the Knights' championship push this NCAA Season 102.
"Gusto rin naman na bago mag-playoffs, talagang ma-feel ko na yung game," he said on the heels of Letran's 78-71 defeat to Emilio Aguinaldo College on Thursday. "Gusto ko pagdating ng playoffs, sa quarterfinals buo na ang loob ko."
READ: EAC spoils Manalili’s Letran return, books NCAA quarters spot
Though still groping for form, Manalili took full responsibility for the loss especially after he accounted for four of the team's 16 turnovers, a few of which came in late that derailed Letran's belated rally.
"Parang ako yung dahilan kung bakit kami natalo kaya sabi ko sa teammates ko babawi ako," he said after finishing with eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the loss.
There's no question that Manalili has the right priorities in mind even after sitting out the last five games, going from rehab to the game real quick.
"Sineseryoso ko yung rehab. Dalawang beses lang ako nakasabay sa team practice at nag-eextra naman ako. Pero syempre iba yung ensayo sa actual game. Yun naman ang challenge sa akin, so need kong bumawi sa team talaga," the Cebuano guard stated.
But more than his recovery, Manalili said that the bigger battle for him is mental as he tries to play through the scare of aggravating his current pains.
"Nagda-dalawang isip ako eh. Medyo yung kalaban ko lang yung pag-iisip ko kasi nga medyo kinakabahan pa ako," he said.
"Pero sabi naman ng coaches ko na kaya ko naman kaya binibigyan nila ako ng kumpyansa na wag akong matakot. So parang ito yung way, parang dahan-dahanin ko para bago mag-playoffs, ready na ako."
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