By: Miguel Caramoan
Beyond the spectacular rise of Jonathan Manalili, Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s biggest strength this season has been its depth — a roster built with interchangeable parts and players ready to step up at any moment.
But in the heat of the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball playoffs, the Knights have leaned heavily on the steady scoring of Jimboy Estrada.
With Manalili’s arrival, the former St. Clare gunner had shifted to a secondary role during the eliminations. Still, he remained Letran’s second-leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
Come playoff time, Estrada has raised the bar, averaging 18.7 points in their last three outings while shooting an impressive 47.1% from deep — a surge he credits to the confidence head coach Allen Ricardo has instilled in the entire team.
“Madami naman kami na binibigyan ng kompiyansa ni Coach Allen, so kailangan hindi namin masayang ‘yon kasi nagtitiwala siya sa amin and mabalik namin sa kanya,” he said.
That trust was on full display in Letran’s 77-73 Game 1 semifinals win over Perpetual, where Estrada sank a clutch isolation three-pointer to give the Knights the cushion they needed.
“Pinapraktis ko ‘yun kasi ilang games ko na ginagawa,” he added.
For Ricardo, having a player capable of creating a bucket in crunch time is a luxury every coach dreams of.
“Sarap ng may ganyan player eh. Dream ng isang coach ‘yan na magkaroon ka ng maraming key players, and it’s all about understanding them,” said the Letran mentor.
As the Knights inch closer to their goal, Estrada knows the mission isn’t over.
“Kailangan namin maging composed kasi nakuha namin yung panalo, and kailangan namin trabahuhin kung bakit sila nakahabol and nakadikit,” he said.
