Fran Yu used to run the show for the Letran Knights, and from one floor general to another, he believes the Knights are in good hands with rookie Titing Manalili.
Yu even said in jest that Manalili could have eaten him alive if they had shared the court in the NCAA, a testament to the respect he has for the new Letran point guard.
But all jokes aside, Yu is serious when he said that Letran’s future is in capable hands with Manalili leading. The current Titan Ultra guard even said that the Knights may be bound for a title under the leadership of Manalili.
"Sobrang impressed. Dati ko pa siya pinapanood, juniors pa lang," Yu, who helped Letran complete a three-peat title from Season 95 to Season 98, told GMA News Online on Sunday.
"Buti na nga lang hindi kami nagkaabot e, kundi kain ako doon malamang. Ang galing, ang galing."
(So impressed. I've been watching for a while now, even back in the juniors... It's a good thing we didn't play at the same time, he would've eaten me alive. He's so good.)
Manalili will gladly take these praises from Yu, even as he knows that bringing Letran back to the championship throne in NCAA Season 101 will be a tough task.
Manalili, a two-time juniors champion, said he sees a bit of himself in Yu, recalling the hardships they both faced growing up and expressing his desire to carry on the legacy Yu built at Letran.
"Nu’ng high school pa lang na nakita ko siya maglaro sa college, sinabi ko na gusto kong makasamang maglaro si Kuya Fran kasi dati pa lang, alam ko ‘yung story niya e," Manalili said in a separate interview.
"Kumbaga, may similarity kami. And hindi man natupad ['yung gusto ko na makalaro siya], gusto ko lang ipagpatuloy kung ano ‘yung na-achieve niya sa Letran."
(When I was in high school, I was watching him play in college, I said back then I wanted to play alongside Kuya Fran because I knew his story... We had some similarities. And even if it didn't come to pass, I want to be able to continue what he was able to achieve with Letran.)
Manalili and the rest of the current Knights will now aim to replicate the same fighting spirit that Yu and the previous Letran squad unleashed to win three straight titles in 2022.
Letran is facing a twice-to-win disadvantage against Group A second seed Arellano University in the quarterfinals, where one loss will mean the end of their season.
"Hindi gano’n kadali kasi nga palakas nang palakas ang mga teams and lalo na ngayon na hindi namin hawak ‘yung advantage," Manalili said.
(It's not that easy because teams are getting stronger and stronger, especially now, we don't hold the advantage.)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
