MANALILI'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE POWERS LETRAN PAST LYCEUM IN OT

By: Miguel Caramoan

Jonathan Manalili showcased his all-around brilliance to lead Colegio de San Juan de Letran to a thrilling 95-93 overtime victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The 21-year-old Cebuano freshman recorded a stellar triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, and two steals, marking the second triple-double of the season after Arellano’s T-Mc Ongotan achieved the feat against the same Pirates squad.

Lyceum started strong in the opening quarter, as Richmond Casino and Ato Barba combined for 14 points to give the Pirates a 20-16 lead with just over three minutes left. But Jimboy Estrada rallied the Knights with a seven-point burst, completing a 10-4 run to close the first quarter ahead by two.

The Pirates capitalized on Letran’s 10 first-half turnovers, pushing the tempo in transition. Simon Peñafiel scored seven points in the second quarter, while Luiz Tapeño added eight in the paint, keeping Lyceum’s two-point lead intact at halftime.

“Kailangan din namin tong ganitong mga games,” Letran coach Allen Ricardo said. “Not every game ay up ka by a big margin, so this is a lesson for us para magkaro’n kami ng maturity on both offense and defense.”

Manalili’s heroics were complemented by strong performances from Santos and Estrada.

The 6-foot-4 Santos posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while former NAASCU MVP Estrada added 15 points and 10 boards off the bench.

With the win, Letran has bounced back from early-season setbacks, stringing together three straight victories to tie JRU for third place in Group B at 3-3.

The Knights will aim to climb above .500 when they face the Mapua Cardinals on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.