By MARK REY MONTEJO
If there’s any unique relationship in the NCAA Season 99 finals series, it is between Finals MVP Titing Manalili and Letran’s Allen Ricardo and Perpetual’s Joph Cleopas.
Manalili, who played for both Ricardo and Cleopas throughout his young career, showed appreciation to both coaches for giving him the opportunity to hone his skills and compete to a higher level of basketball.
“Siguro isa siya sa mga rason kung ba’t ako napunta rito. Malaki ‘yong pasasalamat ko sa kanya,” said Manalili of Cleopas, who was his mentor during his days in Cebu City’s University of Southern Philippines Foundation
Cleopas and Manalili’s family have actually known each other ever since with the former lending a hand to the then young Manalili back when he was still a budding star in Cebu.
“Masaya ako. Mahaba na ‘yung kwento namin ni coach. Una kasi nu’ng pumunta ako sa school na ‘yon, puro mga 18 [years old] pataas and ako lang ata ‘yung bata, 13 or 14. Syempre hinanapan niya ako ng paraan para makalaro sa mga liga,” he added.
“Close kami ng family nyan, kilalang kilala namin ang isa’t isa, pero finals ‘to eh kailangan isantabi muna ‘yon,” said Cleopas.
As the love lingers on for his two mentors, the Cebuano rising star is hoping to remain under the tutelage of Ricardo, who is expected to guide the Knights in the centennial season.
“Oo syempre, gusto ko pang umakyat ng Letran (Knights) para si Coach Allen (Ricardo) pa rin ang coach. Gusto ko habang nagba-basketball ako siya lang ‘yong coach ko kasi siya lang ‘yong nakakaintindi sa akin,” Manalili added.
“Siguro kung nasa ibang school ako, hindi ganito ‘yung maipapakita ko,”
Manalili and Ricardo were together in winning back-to-back titles in the Junior division for the Intramuros-based squad, sweeping the De La Salle Greenhills in Season 98 and for this year, denying the Perpetual Junior Altas for their first-ever championship in the grand old league.
Manalili led the Squires in the finals with the support coming from graduating George Diamante Jr., Jovel Baliling and Koronadal City star Syrex Silorio.
