By: Miguel Caramoan
It’s safe to say that it’s Janti Miller time now for San Beda University in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Placed in a stacked Group B alongside last season’s runner-up Benilde Blazers and a retooled Letran Knights squad, San Beda’s path was anything but easy. Yet, in those tightly contested matchups, the Red Lions found stability through Miller — and the Fil-Am rookie hasn’t disappointed.
The 21-year-old forward from Fairfield, California, has been the heart of San Beda’s early success. He’s produced averages of 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist on 50% shooting in their first two games against the Knights and the Blazers.
Overall, he is currently averaging 17.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game — the second-best scoring mark in the league — proof of his growing impact on both ends of the floor.
Miller has made a statement that against powerhouse programs testing their poise and toughness. He has become the consistent offensive anchor the Red Lions needed to stabilize their campaign.
And when San Beda opened its crossover play against defending champions Mapua Cardinals, Miller rose to the occasion once more — torching the Cardinals with 20 points on an efficient 63.6% shooting.
Calm yet commanding, he showed maturity rarely seen from a first-year player.
For Miller, the matchup carried a personal edge.
“Like I said in my first interview, I had them marked in my calendar. In my preseason debut, they played me super aggressive and I couldn’t play for a week, so I had to lock in and get in the weight room,” shared the 6-foot-4 guard.
That preseason moment became a turning point for Miller, who has since adjusted to the physicality of NCAA play.
His ability to absorb contact and finish through it has made him a matchup nightmare for opposing wings.
Still, with his early explosion, opposing teams have started to zero in on his tendencies.
But Miller remains a step ahead.
“Just like how they scout me, we scout them as well. We’re just working on different attacks for me. Shout out to Coach Yuri [Escueta] because we all know that every team might have a game plan against me, but he’s done a good job of gelling the team to look for different angles for me to contribute to the team,” Miller added.
The results speak for themselves. The Red Lions have emerged as one of the most balanced teams in the league, with Miller’s poise and versatility serving as a key differentiator.
And even with his string of strong performances, Miller remains grounded and focused on the ultimate goal.
“Obviously, we have key matchups, but we are also taking each team 100 percent seriously. So we’re just making sure that we’re taking this one game at a time. Next game, focus — and until the championship,” he said.
