Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Titing Manalili in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Finals. Photo by Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines.MANILA — Titing Manalili’s rookie year didn’t end the way he wanted as Colegio de San Juan de Letran bowed to rival San Beda University in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Finals.
Despite dazzling the seniors scene with his playmaking skills, which earned him both the Rookie of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, Manalili ended up on the wrong side of the result as the Knights were swept by the Red Lions on the championship stage.
READ: San Beda deals rival Letran heartbreak for Season 101 championship glory
Manalili also caught the eye of those beyond the NCAA, sparking rumors that the 6-foot-1 Cebuano could be recruited by teams from other leagues, especially those from the UAAP.
Fortunately for the Muralla-based faithful, what this Finals loss to San Beda did to Manalili was add more fire to his desire to bring glory to the Knights.
“Kahit anong mangyari, gusto kong bigyan ng championship yung Letran,” he told ABS-CBN News before exiting the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Saturday.
A separate source acknowledged to ABS-CBN News that there are indeed a number schools trying to recruit Manalili, but emphasized that this should be the least of Letran’s problems for now.
“Meron talaga, pero natigil na yan. Kasi nagkaroon na ng ‘agreement’ with some teams na tigilan na nila ang pag-recruit kay Jonathan, so stay lang siya sa Letran,” said the source. “Kahit naman kung nag-champion na yung Letran ngayon, hindi yan aalis kasi alam niya ring marami pa siyang kailangang i-improve.”
Manalili acknowledged the development, but insisted that such narratives are also not among his priorities just yet.
“Tiyaka ko muna iisipin yan,” he said. “Ang focus ko muna ay yung sarili ko, kung paano ako babangon, at mag-champion para sa Letran.”