TITING Manalili is looking at the upcoming NCAA season as his shot at redemption.
His team, Letran, had failed to make it to the Final Four in Season 100 and, according to him, it was partly because he was injured and there was a small issue about his academic situation, that made him unavailable when the team needed him most.
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“Nung ongoing pa lang 'yung game 'yung patapos na at naffeel ko na natatalo na sila, sinisisi ko yung sarili ko kasi yun nga,” Manalili told SPIN.ph, describing Letran’s loss to Arellano which officially booted the school out of contention last season.
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na kung andun ako mananalo kami o magssemis kami pero alam ko sa sarili ko na may maitutulong ako kung nandun ako,” he continued. “Nagsisi ako. Ngayon alam ko talaga na kailangan ko bumawi.”
Some say, Manalili, who many had expected to shine in the senior level after a strong high school career, may have a point. They say Manalili would have made a difference for the Knights because of his ability to set up shots for himself, raising the floor of his team on offense and put the pressure on opposing teams’ defense.
In three games in the Playtime Cares Filoil Preseason Cup, Manalili is currently averaging 10 points and seven assists – numbers that should be expected of him come the start of NCAA Season 101.
Now given the green light to play, Manalili promised the Letran community that this year will be totally different.
“Kailangan kong bumawi. Hindi ako nakapaglaro last year so kailangan ko talaga magpakita ngayon kasi nga iba ang expectations ng mga tao sa amin. Kailangan namin mapatunayan kung ano kami talaga,” he said.
“Expect niyo lang babawi tayo ngayong season.”
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