Knights back in NCAA Finals for first time in three years

Letran guard Jonathan Manalili goes for a layup against Perpetual Help in Game 2 of their NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Final Four series.–NCAA PHOTO

Letran hasn’t been in the NCAA Finals for three years. And for some schools with lesser basketball pedigree, that seems like a lifetime.

“When you’re in a basketball school with a lot of championships, you always have to work for success,” coach Allen Ricardo told the Inquirer after Letran rallied for a 74-70 win over Perpetual Help in Game 2 of the Season 101 men’s basketball semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday that sent the Knights back to the title series.

Letran completed a three-peat the last time it was in the Finals. That was in 2022 and the Knights hope to touch off another championship string as they await a foe in the best-of-three series between San Beda and College of St. Benilde, which will clash in the rubber match of their semifinal series on Sunday.

And the road back to the Last Dance in the Grand Old League wasn’t easy, as the Knights had to overcome a twice-to-win disadvantage against Arellano in the quarterfinals before taking on the top-seeded Altas here.

Ricardo shared the drive he and his Knights have for the season.

“We ended up as the sixth seed last year, so I told myself, this can’t happen again,” Ricardo said. “From the coaching staff down to the players, we (know we) have to work hard and play smart.”

Two who stood out

Jonathan Manalili and Jimboy Estrada played hard and smart for the Knights, who erased a 68-60 deficit in the last 6:48 to get Letran to where it’s at.

Manalili scored 16 points and dished out 14 feeds, while Estrada was big in the stretch to finish with 11.

Meanwhile, the Blazers took their series with the Red Lions to a decider after an Ian Torres basket gave Benilde a 77-75 win in the first game.

Torres, who finished with 17 points, threw up a floater at the buzzer over the outstretched arms of Nygel Gonzales as Benilde will have some sort of a psychological edge over the Lions in their no-tomorrow match.

Tony Ynot led Benilde with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Justine Sanchez registered a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Southeast Asian Games-bound Allen Liwag also chipped in big with nine points and 15 rebounds.

San Beda played without star swingman Agjanti Miller due to a knee contusion, but guards Gonzales and Bryan Sajonia carried the offensive load in the loss with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

But the day truly belonged to Letran and Ricardo, who had a lot of success as the Squires’ coach.

“College ball is new to me,” Ricardo said. “It’s different from high school. There’s a big difference. There were frustrations from losses, but it’s all a learning experience for me.”

Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz provided the offense for the Altas with 17 and 15 points, respectively. John Abis’ 10 points and 11 rebounds also went down the drain in the Perpetual loss that put to naught a brilliant elimination round campaign.