The San Beda Red Lions are a win away from their 24th NCAA men’s basketball title. 

This, after San Beda’s 89-70 demolition job against their arch-rivals Letran Knights in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 Finals on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. 

San Beda went ballistics right out of the gates, firing 29 first quarter points against Letran’s 17, before the latter made a run of their own in the second to close the half at 56-53 in favor of the Red Lions. 

It was in the third frame where the Season 99 champs suffocated Letran, turning their three-point halftime lead to a 20-point cushion behind a 22-5 quarter scoring disparity. 

Bryan Sajonia, despite fouling out in the fourth quarter and in only 19 minutes of action, scored on all cylinders and finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.

The Pavia, Iloilo pride registered an impressive 54.5% field goal clip laced with two booming triples in the first half that started what eventually became a wire-to-wire blowout win for SBU. 

Janti Miller was also a difference-maker on both ends, collecting a near double-double of 16 points and 9 boards prior to being thrown out in the final canto.

Miller – the Season 101 scoring champion – received a second technical foul in the final canto, which automatically meant an ejection and a one-game suspension as per NCAA rules.

It was Batangueño floor general Nygel Gonzales, however, who earned the best player nod behind an all-around performance at the point. 

The Lipa City native had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal, though possibly his most impactful contribution was being assigned to defend– and shut down– Letran star Jonathan Manalili.

Despite Manalili’s team-high 17 points, Gonzales held his ground and made it difficult for the Cebuano playmaker to find his usual passing rhythm by not giving an inch during one-on-one coverages. 

Manalili struggled against the Red Lions' laser focus defense, as the rookie phenom was limited to only 5 assists– 4 short of his 9.4 season average– with 2 rebounds and 4 steals. 

Letran ace Jimboy Estrada finished with 14 markers but shot only 33.3% (4/12) from the field, with versatile forward Jun Roque’s similar poor shooting display (4/12 - 33.3%) also adding insult to injury. 

San Beda and Letran will meet again for Game 2 of their best-of-three finals matchup on Saturday, December 13, at the Araneta Coliseum.