The final score might suggest otherwise, but Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 finals between old rivals Letran and San Beda unquestionably lived up to the hype with all the taunting, antics, and on-court drama.
For one, the game saw numerous technical fouls, an unsportsmanlike infraction, and even the ejection of the Red Lions' super scorer Janti Miller midway through the fourth.
But one particular gesture — as early as the first quarter — drew the ire of Letran’s rookie sensation, Titing Manalili.
The first-year guard said they didn’t appreciate Miller making a hand gesture toward Letran’s bench, seemingly daring the Knights’ usual starters to take the floor.
The gesture came in response to Letran’s decision to start the game with their bench players like Luiz Tapenio, Elijah Yusi, Peter Rosillo, and Alex Gazzingan.
"Medyo iba rin ‘yung pakikitungo niya sa amin, parang medyo na-offend kami kasi nga sa pinapakita niya. Pero wala ‘yun, babawi kami andiyan man siya o wala," Manalili said.
"Parang tinatawag niya kami. Sabi ko lang sa team na nasa game na nagkakainisan talaga."
(He kind of had a different attitude towards us, we were kind of offended by what we were seeing from him. But that's nothing, we'll get back whether he's there or not... It was like he was calling us out. I just told the team, we're inside the game now, we're getting on each other's nerves.)
Miller exited the game prematurely due to two technical fouls, but his Red Lions proved steady in the second half as they pulled off a wire-to-wire 89-70 win to draw first blood.
Miller’s ejection means he will automatically have to serve a one-game suspension in Game 2 but Manalili said the Knights aren’t focused on that as they plan to come back stronger no matter who’s on the court.
"May pressure kasi nga first time ko so at least ngayon alam ko na, na-feel ko na ‘yung crowd, ‘yung game so panoorin ko ulit ‘yung game kung ano ‘yung nagawa kong mali and babaguhin ko sa Game 2," Manalili said.
"Syempre malaking tulong sa amin ‘yun kung wala siya pero hindi naman namin tine-take advantage ‘yun. Trabaho pa rin kami, andiyan man siya o wala."
(There's pressure, because this is my first time so at least now I'm familiar, I've felt the crowd, the game, so I can watch the game back and see what I did wrong and change that for Game 2... Of course, it would be a boost for us if he isn't there but we're not out to take advantage of that. We're just out to work, whether he's there or not.)
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—JMB, GMA Integrated News
