By MARK REY MONTEJO
Titing Manalili and the Letran Squires pulled off a shocking 97-80 win over title favorite University of Perpetual Help in a victory that pushed them to within a win to retain their NCAA high school championship.
And they credited their lopsided win at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City last Saturday, March 16, to the words of encouragement from the school’s former stars, led by Kevin Alas.
“Sinasabi sa amin ni kuya Kevin Alas na relax lang kami and antayin namin na ‘yung laro ‘yung pupunta o lalapit sa amin,” said Manalili.
The injured star of the NLEX Road Warriors came to the team’s practice along with former Letran standouts like Mark Andaya, JP Calvo, King Caralipio, Mark Cruz a day prior to the opening game of the best-of-three title series.
Their visit and the wisdom they shared worked like magic.
The Squires played with so much fervor, especially in third where they finally broke loose, what with their high-octane offense plus an air-tight defense.
So fired-up were the Squires they forced the top-seeded Junior Altas to turn the ball 19 times which proved to be their own downfall.
From a tight first half contest, the Squires then zoomed to an 83-63 advantage that proved too much for the Junior Altas to overcome.
It was Manalili, the rising star from Cebu City, who shone the brightest in a team that played as one big fighting unit.
Manalili’s numbers were mind-boggling if not spectacular.
He produced 35 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. His scoring output is so far the highest this season – unless someone manages to score more than that on Wednesday.
More than the presence of Alas and company, Letran coach Allen Ricardo said their finals experience from last season’s war also helped them overcome the grinding pressure.
“Malaking tulong ‘yong finals experience last year, so malaking factor samin ‘yong experience from Season 98 going into this championship [round of] Season 99,” Ricardo stressed.” “Talagang sakin I want to show the kids na wag hanggang dito lang ang pangarap nyo, talagang kailangang mai-guide namin sila sa mga decision makings nila,”
“Lahat kami nasa iisang grupo lang and they are trying to motivate us, para makatulong,” he added.
