Photo courtesy of Kim Yoshi Espiritu | The LANCE
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights fired blank against archrivals San Beda Red Lions, 70-89, in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Basketball Tournament Finals earlier today, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Letran’s second half fall was served when they got pressed by San Beda, pouring in only five points while giving away 22 points in the third quarter.
The Intramuros-based squad was anchored by Jonathan Manalili, who, in his first taste of a senior finals game, registered 17 points, two rebounds, five assists, and four steals. He was backstopped by Jimboy Estrada who started making his shots in the dying minutes, posting 14 markers, four rebounds, four dimes, and three steals.
Allen Ricardo’s reshuffled roster saw an early blockade in the opening canto as the Red Lions built a scorching 10-point advantage,19-29.
June Roque and the Knights navigated through the seams of a tight Beda defense and were only able to thread a hole in the transition, however, Janti Miller and Brian Sajonia’s hot hands kept striking rainbow shots to shut down the opposing retaliation.
The Blue shirts sought revival after the halftime break, but to no avail, chucked up shots to the back rim and misfired for almost eight-straight minutes.
This scene was nothing but delightful to Yuri Escueta and the Mendiola-based crew as the no.1 ranked team in league rebounding. San Beda were just picking cherries with their size advantage which translated to easy perimeter shots in the offensive—becoming one of the good reasons why they took over in the third.
The hole seemed dark enough for the Knights to find their way as they trail a game-high Red Lions’ lead of 22 points, 48-70, before jumping to the final frame.
Being exposed to physical basketball, Miller picked up his second technical foul for flopping after trying to bait his opponents into fouling him. The foreign recruit was eventually thrown out at the 6-minute mark of the fourth quarter, leaving Sajonia and Nygel Gonzales in the drivers’ seat.
Manalili tried injecting life to his squad by attacking and booking trips to the charity stripe before exiting the game with his fifth foul coming from a technical call. A few transition steals by Letran churned out short buckets before finally wilting at the end of the regulation.
Sajonia spearheaded the Red Lions’ hunt, gathering 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Miller, despite his early exit, stunned with 16 and nine boards. Gonzales, meanwhile, had to prove his worth behind his coach’s heavy media praise, showing up with 14 points, two rebounds, five assists, and a steal.
The Knights will regroup and reverse their tactics this Saturday, December 13, as they scheme a revenge attack against the Miller-less San Beda Red Lions at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
QUARTERSCORES: 19-29, 43-46, 48-68, 70-89
CSJL (70) - Manalili 17, Estrada 14, Roque 12, Gammad 6, Santos 6, Buensalida 2, Cuajao 2, Omega 2, Montecillo 2, Yusi 2, Gazzingan 1, Rosilio 0.
SBU (89) - Sajonia 17, Miller 16, Gonzales 14, Estacio 8, Reyes 8, Calimag 7, Celzo 6, Puno 6, Andrada 5, Lina 2, Etulle 0.