The Letran Knights are bracing for their toughest stretch of their NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament campaign, as they prepare to face powerhouse squads JRU Heavy Bombers and San Beda Red Lions in the coming month without star point guard Titing Manalili.
The 6‑foot playmaker, who had been averaging stellar numbers of 11.3 points, 10.3 assists, and 4.3 steals, missed Letran’s narrow 82-81 loss to the Arellano Chiefs due to a right wrist injury.
Manalili—who is set to be sidelined for two to four weeks—expressed deep remorse for not being able to help the team in their one‑point loss to the Chiefs, who moved to an unblemished 4‑0 record.
“Ongoing naman ‘yung rehab ko… Feel bad lang ako kasi hindi ko matulungan ‘yung team sa mga ganong situation… Sabi lang naman, everything happens for a reason,” Manalili said postgame. “We just need to move forward, and babawi kami sa next game,” he added.
Manalili Remains Vocal on the Sidelines
Despite the injury, Manalili continues to leave his mark on Letran by shifting to a more vocal role during huddles, underscoring the team’s need to keep composure when maintaining leads.
“Sabi ko naman, stay composed sila, lalo na nung lumalamang kami. Need more improvements pa para sa team, kasi ang daming lapses namin… Babalik kami sa ensayo, tignan namin kung saan kami nagkamali,” Manalili said.
Dropping to a 3‑1 slate, Manalili sees his injury as a “wake‑up call” and emphasizes the importance of cleaning up their mistakes while the season is still in its early stages.
“Mas mabuti nga nangyari ‘to nang maaga, para ma‑figure out at mabibigyan namin ng solusyon mga gantong moments… Okay naman kami, move forward lang,” the former NCAA Jrs Finals MVP said.
The Knights will return to action on Monday, October 5, against reigning champions San Beda at the same venue.
