By: Gabby Balcos
Photo courtesy of Avril Anne V. Batungbacal & Joaquin Zacchary B. Tadeo | The Bedan & Kim Yoshi Espiritu | The LANCE. Layout by Maverick Rhoy De Vera | The LANCE
The NCAA Season 101 finals will reignite one of collegiate basketball's longest-standing rivalries as the Letran Knights meet the San Beda Red Lions anew. And with the Mendiola-based university holding a 10-7 lead in their 17 seniors championship clashes, this promises to be another one for the ages.
The Knights are back in the finals after several seasons away—a development that head coach Allen Ricardo celebrated. "Well, I’m thankful and grateful for this opportunity to lead the team first and bring back Letran in the season 101 championship," he said . This championship series, the first between the storied institutions since 2019, will have both squads eager to add to their rich rivalry.
Historical Rivalry
The Knights and Red Lions have traded NCAA titles and big victories for decades. In that landmark 1950 final, Letran upset San Beda to hoist their second championship, setting the tone for a rivalry that has spanned generations.
The teams met again in landmark finals such as the 2007 "Dream Series," when San Beda avenged the ‘50 result by sweeping Letran, and in the more recent 2019 finals, when the Knights won in a full three-game series. By many accounts, it is the NCAA equivalent of the UAAP’s famed Ateneo–La Salle feud, generating intense fan interest whenever the Knights and Lions collide.
After years on parallel tracks, San Beda gathering multiple titles and Letran rebuilding—both schools have again climbed to the summit. Letran’s journey to the Season 101 finals is its first championship appearance since 2022 during its threepeat run.
Uphill Climb
CSJL’s path to the finals has been rocky at times but also marked by resilience. The team actually started the season unevenly, dropping its opener to San Beda 58–68 and later suffering a lopsided loss to the College of Saint Benilde, where rookie guard Jonathan "Titing" Manalili still led the Knights with 23 points.
Those early setbacks left Letran under .500 in the opening rounds. However, the Knights soon reversed course as they learned to prioritize the collective game plan over individual accolades. "For our team, surrendering their ego to the team, syempre lahat ‘yan, lahat ‘yan gusto nila, magaling sila eh. So, siyempre, sumunod muna kayo sa akin, i-surrender niyo muna ‘yung sarili n’yo doon sa ginagawa," Coach Allen said.
The Knights rallied to win five of its last seven elimination games, climbing up the standings and securing a berth in the quarterfinals. The postseason saw more challenges: in the stepladder semis, Letran dismantled an Arellano squad to advance, then faced top-seeded Perpetual in a best-of-three.
The Muralla squad took Game 1 and clinched it in a nailbiting Game 2. Down big early in the fourth quarter of that finale, Letran leaned on Ricardo’s disciplined execution to navigate the pressure. "So tsaga lang namin. Sabi ko, one step at a time and then let’s execute our plays. Especially on our offense, kailangan may direction,” he said.
Manalili Magic
A central figure in Letran’s rise has been rookie point guard Jonathan "Titing" Manalili. The 6-foot floor general has steered the Knights’ offense with poise beyond his years. In the Elimination Round play, he routinely logged big numbers, and by far led the league in assists.
Even San Beda coach Yuri Escueta publicly acknowledged Manalili’s threat, calling him "very talented" and arguably "the best point guard in the NCAA now.”
Ricardo has emphasized that his relationship with his young star is built on mutual investment and emotional connection. "Siyempre, ano ‘yan eh, kay Jonathan, ‘yung mga bata na ‘yan, especially with ‘yung kailangan paramdam mo sa kanila na ‘yung important sila, mahalin mo sila para ibibigay din nila sa'yo," he said.
Ricardo continues to stress, however, that Manalili’s success stems from the team’s system and collective selflessness.
The Stage is Set
The Season 101 championship tips off on Wednesday, December 10, at 2:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It is a best-of-three series, with Games 2 and 3 set for Dec. 13 and 16, if needed. Ricardo attributes his readiness for this grand stage to rigorous preparation and film study.
"I admit na lahat talaga ng games, lahat ng teams, pinapanood ko how they execute things, ‘yung X and O’s nila... pinag-aralan ko lang mabuti ‘yung mga kalaban. Saan sila malakas, saan sila mahina," he explained.
Letran arrives as a surging underdog with championship pedigree, while San Beda comes in as a well-rested, battle-tested contender. Either way, the winner will not only claim the Season 101 crown but also carry bragging rights in a rivalry that has been decades in the making.
Letranites are urged to pack the Big Dome, as a vociferous home crowd could tip the scales.