In their previous four championships, the Letran Knights have always started strong in taking Game 1.
The Knights eventually won the crown by taking Game 3 in seasons 91, 95, 97 and 98, during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament’s Final Four era.
This did not happen under the new play-in/playoff era of the league, as the San Beda Red Lions took Game 1 of their Season 101 finals encounter, with a 89-70 beating of the Knights.
For coach Allen Ricardo, the Knights will just have to bounce back in Game 2 on Saturday and keep his fingers crossed that they will be able to force a titular Game 3.
“Hindi kami nag-start strong. Pero ganu’n yung tiwala ko sa players ko. I know that it’s the championship, pero may agreement kami doon, suportado nila ako doon,” said Ricardo, after emerging from an hourlong huddle with his team on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Beda, in taking its first Game 1 win in seven years, grabbed the initiative when the Lions unleashed a big 24-3 run in the third quarter to break the game open.
Three players led the way for the Knights, with Jonathan Manalili hitting 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals, while Jimboy Estrada had 14 points, and Jun Roque making 12 points.
“Nandiyan naman ‘yung grit, so babalik at babalik ‘yan. Pag-aaralan lang namin ‘to muna ng mabuti,” added Ricardo.
The Red Lions will most probably miss talented Fil-American point guard Agjanti Miller, who was thrown out in the third quarter of Game 1 after incurring two technical fouls, off his rebound clashes with Deo Cuajao.
