Colegio de San Juan de Letran will have to wait a bit longer for Jonathan Manalili’s seniors debut.
The talented 6-foot-1 floor general will miss the entirety of the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament due to season-ending surgery for an undisclosed injury.
“Yung injury ni Jonathan, matagal na niyang iniinda, since nung NCAA Season 99 pa. So instead of taking the risk na maging mas worse pa siya, we opted na lang to have it operated on,” said Knights head coach Allen Ricardo.
Manalili is a two-time NCAA Juniors Basketball champion from the Squires program.
Last season, he averaged 16.08 points, 6.92 assists, 4.23 rebounds, and 2.46 steals per game. The 20-year-old point guard from Cebu was also last season’s Finals MVP.
Manalili made his seniors debut in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup, where he demonstrated that he would only need minor adjustments to excel in seniors play, averaging 11.0 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Manalili was also part of the Strong Group team that swept the 43rd William Jones Cup.
With Manalili sidelined, the Knights will rely on Deo Cuajao, Johnsherick Estrada, and Kobe Monje to step up. Nathan Montecillo will also take on a heavier role as Letran’s lead floor general.
“We will start every game with the right attitude and body language. I always tell the boys, for me, it’s your legacy—it’s how you play the game. No one can take that away from you. It’s for yourself, your family, your loved ones, and the Letran community.” said the decorated coach.
