Letran coach Allen Ricardo during the NCAA Season 100 press conference at Mall of Asia Arena.–MELO FUERTES/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Perhaps no other team has been dealing with more adversities ahead of the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament than Letran.
With a new era under coach Allen Ricardo, the mood inside the Knights’ camp should’ve been nothing but positive. However, last-minute hiccups have dampened Letran’s expectations.
For one, the Knights’ key veteran in Pao Javillonar is expected to miss at least three games.
READ: San Beda begins title defense vs Lyceum to open NCAA Season 100
Javillonar, who was selected by Converge in this year’s PBA Draft, was sanctioned by the league for already suiting up with the FiberXers during an invitational tournament in Davao.
Due to his action, the league currently has a three-game suspension in place for the graduating big man but Ricardo said they had already appealed to the league to lower it to just one game.
“Hopefully, it [sanction] gets minimized to just one [game],” said Ricardo at Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday during the league’s press conference.
Without anticipated rookie Titing Manalili in its lineup, new Letran coach Allen Ricardo talks about the Knights’ chances for #NCAASeason100. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/nD7pHzkB17
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) September 3, 2024
“I don’t just see Pao as a scorer of the team because he also has a leadership [role] as a veteran.”
As if that wasn’t hard enough for the cellar dweller team of Season 99, their highly-touted rookie Titing Manalili from the Squires’ basketball program will miss the upcoming tournament due to an undisclosed injury.
“I guess he’ll have his operation by mid-September,” revealed Ricardo.
“I told him that this season will come by fast and by January, he’ll come back stronger.”
Ricardo kept mum about the specifics surrounding Manalili’s injury but said he sustained it while playing in an outside league not too long ago.
READ: NCAA: Allen Ricardo focuses on building Letran Knights’ character
Manalili was last season’s Finals MVP when the Squires notched back-to-back titles at the expense of Perpetual Help. He also played significant minutes with Strong Group Athletics in the 43rd William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
However, his services will have to be put on hold for the Knights, who are looking to redeem themselves from a 2-16 record last year.
Still, with two key cogs out of commission, Ricardo is taking “one game at a time” in pursuit of Letran’s path back to glory.
“I feel like we’re just ranked from around sixth to tenth. There’s the defending champion San Beda, there’s Mapua, Lyceum, College of St. Benidle, EAC and Arellano, who have all shown improvements so we’ll just take it one game at a time.”
“We’ll take it one game at a time. That’s all for now but I’m excited for Sunday. I’m confident with the boys.”
The Knights begin their Season 100 campaign on Sunday against San Sebastian at San Juan Arena.