By: Miguel Caramoan
From his impressive NCAA Juniors resume, everyone knew Titing Manalili was no ordinary rookie entering the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Fresh off winning Finals MVP for the Letran Squires in Season 99, expectations were high given the caliber of play he displayed in back-to-back junior titles.
Many anticipated that he would immediately make an impact at the senior level.
So when Letran stumbled out of the gates with a 0-3 record, the rocky start served as a rude awakening for the 6-foot Cebuano floor general.
It quickly became clear that opponents were no longer raw prospects but seasoned players who knew how to exploit weaknesses.
“Aral na yung mga kalaban and hindi na mga bata yan, so aral na mga yan and marunong na mag-scout lalo na yung mga players,” Manalili admitted.
But it didn’t take long for Manalili to regain his stride.
With the Knights rallying behind his playmaking, they flipped the script with six straight wins to secure third place in Group B, highlighted by his elimination round averages of 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.9 assists.
Despite Letran’s elevated play, the quarterfinals presented a daunting challenge against a higher-seeded Arellano University squad, which held a twice-to-beat advantage.
Yet Manalili played like a seasoned playoff veteran, averaging 9.0 points and 11.5 assists across two games and orchestrating the Knights’ stunning back-to-back victories to punch their ticket to the semifinals.
He carried that momentum into their showdown with Perpetual.
After posting 15 points and nine assists in a tight 77-73 Game 1 win, Manalili followed it up with a spectacular 16-point, 14-assist double-double to close out the series with a 74-70 triumph, securing Letran’s long-awaited return to the finals.
For Manalili, it all came down to laying everything on the line.
“Sabi ko lang, gawin ko lahat kasi medyo napagod na rin ako eh. Dibale ng ano man mangyari, masaktan man ako, mag-cramps man ako — at least panalo kami. Sabi ko sa lang sa kanila na bigay niyo na best niyo kasi mahirap ibigay sa Perpetual kasi magka-momentum sila,” the 21-year-old Letran lifer said after beating the Altas in Game 2.
Now, heading into his first collegiate finals appearance, Manalili knows that moments like these don’t come often. After grinding through an up-and-down elimination round and a grueling playoff stretch, he’s embracing both the magnitude of the stage and the responsibility of leading Letran’s attack.
“Biggest learning ko is wag mag-relax. Kasi nga sabi ni Coach Allen, hindi na natin mababalik itong araw na ‘to. Kumbaga, di natin alam kung kailan tayo mag-Finals ulit, so kung ano man kalabasan, at least ginawa natin yung best at wala tayong regrets,” he said.
Waiting on the wings for Letran and Manalili is longtime rival San Beda University — a matchup steeped in history, intensity, and high stakes.
The rookie shared that he and teammate Deo Cuajao even revisited past Finals battles against the Red Lions to understand the fire that fuels this rivalry.
“Syempre, may konting kaba kasi San Beda eh. So ewan, hindi ko alam kung ano ibabato nila sa akin or sa amin. Expect na lang namin yung physicality kasi nga talagang umpisa pa lang sa jumpball, may mangyayari na,” Manalili said after witnessing the Red Lions secure their finals berth on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
At the center of this anticipated showdown is the brewing clash between Manalili and San Beda star Janti Miller.
Miller’s shot-making and ability to take over games have made him the focal point of the Red Lions’ attack, while Manalili’s poise, playmaking, and command of tempo have anchored Letran’s rise.
Their matchup promises fireworks — a challenge Manalili is ready to embrace in the finals.
“Mabigat yung Miller, so trabahuhin namin kung sino ma-assign sa kanya,” he said.
