The San Beda University takes Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball finals after an emotional and intense battle against their arch rivals, Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, on the afternoon of December 10 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Coach Allen Ricardo Starts His 3rd Unit
In a surprising twist of events, as the First 5 were called to the floor, the Letrán Knights starters were the 3rd stringers of Head Coach Allen Ricardo.
A tactic that definitely surprised fans a lot.
Instead of having Jimboy Estrada, Jonathan “Titing” Manalili, Kevin Santos, and the rest of his usual starting lineup, he opted to begin with: Luiz Tapenio, Alexandrei Gazzingan, Peter Rosillio, Aaron Buensalida, and Elijah Yusi.
With this, the Red Lions pounced immediately.
Behind the steady orchestration of Nygel Gonzales, whom coach Yuri Escueta had boldly labeled as the league’s best point guard, the San Beda stormed ahead with an early 15-5 blitz and built a 29-19 cushion.
Gonzales set the early tone with eight quick points and relentless pressure on his counterpart, Titing Manalili. Contributions from Sajonia, Agjanti Miller, Penny Estacio, and other support pieces kept San Beda in control throughout most of the first half.
Still, Letran found its way back into contention. Rookie standout Manalili erupted for nine points in the second quarter, helping the Knights narrow the deficit to just three, 46-43, by halftime.
Jun Roque added several timely baskets, keeping the Knights within reach despite struggling offensive production from the rest of the roster.
Red Lions with a 22-to-5 Scoring in the 3rd Quarter
By early in the third, Letran had trimmed the gap all the way down to a single point at 46-45, giving the impression that a trademark rivalry dogfight was finally taking shape.
Instead, that slim margin became the turning point. San Beda immediately answered with the most devastating run of the night, which was a stunning stretch that varied slightly across accounts but consistently reflected complete Red Lion control.
In one sequence, they unleashed an 18-4 burst; in another, a 22-5 avalanche; and in yet another, a 24-3 punishment of the Knights. Whichever angle one looks at, the result was the same: a sudden, emphatic breakaway that ballooned San Beda’s lead to 68-48 entering the fourth quarter.
Miller and Gonzales triggered the rally, while Estacio and Jomel Puno hammered in back-to-back threes that only deepened the Letran collapse.
The third quarter showcased San Beda at its sharpest defensively. They held the Knights to a brutal five-point output, throwing bodies at Letran’s shooters and sealing off the lane.
The Knights shot just 2-of-25 from beyond the arc and barely eclipsed 32 percent overall, with only Manalili managing respectable numbers.
Sajonia and Gonzales Finish the Job Amidst Miller’s Ejection
Although San Beda had firm control entering the final frame, the fourth quarter still produced drama.
Bryan Sajonia fouled out with 7:46 remaining, and moments later, the complexion of the series shifted when Miller absorbed his second technical foul and was ejected at the 6:15 mark.
Under league rules, the ejection triggered an automatic one-game suspension, ruling him out for the possible clincher on Saturday. Despite that setback, the Red Lions stayed composed.
Gonzales and Sajonia had already done much of the heavy lifting, and the bench, particularly Jimmy Reyes and Anfernee Estacio.
Manalili, meanwhile, fouled out as well after drawing a technical for faking a foul, joining San Beda’s Miller among the list of players who did not finish the contest. Letran’s Aaron Buensalida later exited on fouls too, capping a chaotic final period defined by whistles on both ends.
At the final buzzer, the stat lines reflected San Beda’s commanding effort.
FINAL SCORE: LETRAN KNIGHTS 70 – 89 SAN BEDA RED LIONS
Sajonia spearheaded the scoring with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Miller contributed 16 points and nine boards before his ejection, while Gonzales tallied 14 points and five assists alongside sharp defense.
For the Knights, the loss served as a rude awakening. Manalili’s 17 points again led the team, while Estrada and Roque did what they could to keep Letran afloat.
But the avalanche San Beda unleashed in the third period proved too overwhelming, leaving Letran in a do-or-die situation for the remainder of the series.
Agjanti Miller Suspension in Game 2
Perhaps the biggest storyline coming into Game 2 is that San Beda’s Agjanti Miller would be suspended due to having 2 technical fouls, all because of flopping and taunting.
With Miller unavailable, the Lions must compensate accordingly, perhaps leaning on Sajonia-Gonzales again or even possibly, expecting a better game from their Team Captain, Yukien Andrada, who ended the game with only 5 points, 4 boards, an assist, a block, but with 3 turnovers.
Though Game 1 ended in a blowout, the rivalry’s long history suggests that the Knights won’t go quietly in the next battle.
San Beda, however, now stands one victory away from reclaiming its 24th championship and securing a second crown in three years.
The two teams return to the Big Dome on Saturday at 2:00 PM, where the Red Lions will try to finish the job, and Letran will attempt to force a winner-take-all third game, which, if it were to happen, is scheduled on Tuesday, December 16.
