San Beda University goes into Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 Finals without its main weapon Janti Miller, but the Red Lions are intent on proving that their quest for glory isn’t reliant on a single player.
The Red Lions will face longtime rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran again at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with the Mendiola-based squad aiming to capture their 24th overall crown and extend their reign as the most successful program in the league.
San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta refused to believe it's going to be an easy one.
"What I learned from Season 99 is that nobody wins a championship with winning Game 1. We shouldn’t take the next game lightly," Escueta said following their dominant 89-70 Game 1 win last Wednesday.
"I’m sure Letran’s gonna give it their all."
San Beda will come into the game with an undermanned lineup as the Red Lions are tipped to miss the services of Miller after the Filipino-American star was slapped with a one-game suspension due to his Game 1 ejection.
The 22-year-old Miller received two technical fouls in the series opener, rendering him ineligible to play in the next game and leaving the Red Lions without their top gunner.
Escueta sees Miller’s absence as an opportunity for his teammates to rise to the occasion.
All eyes will now be on team captain Yukien Andrada and veterans Nygel Gonzales, Bryan Sajonia, Jomel Puno, and Bismarck Lina, as the Red Lions aim to claim their second championship in three seasons while denying the Knights a chance to force a decisive Game 3.
"We have to be ready. We’ve been in this situation before, we’ve played CSB without Janti. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, ang basketball ay five-on-five, hindi ‘yan one-on-five, hindi ‘yan two-on-five," Escueta added.
"I trust the guys who are playing. It would be nice to have Janti pero ‘pag wala si Janti, the other guys have to step up."
Letran, of course, is seeking to drag the Red Lions to a sudden death.
The Knights had a terrible Game 1 outing with head coach Allen Ricardo opting to start its third unit instead of their usual suspects, a gamble that eventually backfired onto them as they absorbed a 19-point beating.
The second-year coach took responsibility for the decision and vowed to have the Knights regrouped for Game 2.
"Kumbaga suportada naman nila ako doon. Ako rin naman sinusuportahan ko sila. It’s just a matter of paano namin mababalikan at aaralin tong game na 'to, kung ano man 'yung takeaway namin from this game," Ricardo said.
"Kailangan talagang kuhanin namin yung Game 2 kahit anong mangyari. Alam ko naman na 'yung players namin, nandiyan 'yung grit. So babalik at babalik 'yung confidence nila."
Titing Manalili, Letran's second leading scorer behind Jimboy Estrada, personally assured the community that he will come back stronger after fouling out in Game 1 to finish with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
"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."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
