SAN BEDA ON THE CUSP OF ANOTHER NCAA TITLE AFTER SMASHING LETRAN

IT wasn’t the knockout punch quite yet, but it was certainly a definitive blow. 

San Beda proved to be quicker to the punch as it was just simply one step ahead of its rivals after taking an 89-70 wire-to-wire win over Letran in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament finals, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Red Lions took advantage of Knights head coach Allen Ricardo’s early gamble when he fielded in his second unit as starters as they took the driver’s seat from the onset and never looked back. 

Letran did try to make a comeback, getting as close as one, 46-45 early in the third quarter but that’s when the Red Lions dealt the killer blow – going on a backbreaking 24-3 tear as Janti Miller led a balanced attack and take a 68-48 lead entering the payoff period. 

It was a lead too big for the Knights to overcome as the closest they got was within 14 with the boys of coach Yuri Escueta having answers to every Letran rally.

"I was happy with how we played defense at the start of the game, and at the start of the third quarter but we have to better in terms of taking care of the ball cause we're giving them the opportunity to score,"  San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said. 

"It's hard to play good defense if you're careless with the ball so you have to be able to adjust to the physicality if that's how Letran's gonna play, kailangan matuto kami mag-adjust," he added. 

Called by his head coach as the 'best point guard in the league' over Letran's Titing Manalili, Nygel Gonzales certainly played like one as he set the tone for the Red Lions, scoring eight points in the opening salvo while taking on the challenge of guard Manalili.

That great start snowballed for San Beda, with guys like Bryan Sajonia, Jimmy Miller, Penny Estacio joining in the fun as the Red Lions took control of the game for good. 

Gonzales finished with 14 points, five assists and a steal while Sajonia led the way with 17 points and six boards before fouling out. 

Miller added 16 points and nine rebounds before getting ejected in the 6:16 mark of the game for incurring his second technical, a dampener to an otherwise impressive night for the Red Lions as the ejection meant that he's set to miss San Beda's possible clincher this Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

READ: Janti Miller set to be suspended for Game 2 after ejection

Reyes and Estacio also had their moments off the bench, with both guys scoring eight apiece while also aiding Gonzales in hounding Manalili. 

Manalili finished with 17 points, five assists and four steals for the Knights before fouling out in the fourth period. Jimboy Estrada added 14 while Jun Roque chipped in 12 for the Knights who was limited to just 32.9 percent from the field all in all, and made just two-of-25 threes. 

The scores:

SAN BEDA 89 – Sajonia 17, Miller 16, Gonzales 14, Estacio 8, Reyes 8, Calimag 7, Celzo 6, Puno 6, Andrada 5, Lina 2, Etulle 0

LETRAN 70 – Manalili 17, Estrada 14, Roque 12, Santos 6, Gammad 6, Omega 4, Buensalida 2, Cuajao 2, Montecillo 2, Tapenio 2, Yusi 2, Gazzingan 1, Rosilio 0

Quarters: 29-19, 46-43, 68-48, 89-70

2025-12-10T10:15:08Z