No Janti Miller, no problem for San Beda University.
Even without their sensational rookie guard, the Red Lions completed a sweep of bitter rival Letran College, 83-71, in Game 2 to capture the Season 101 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball title.
It is San Beda’s 24th overall NCAA crown and its second under head coach Yuri Escueta, who was appointed in 2022.
Season 101 is also the first time the Lions won over the Knights in the NCAA finals since 2013 when the likes of Ola Adeogun, Baser Amer, Dan Sara and brothers Anthony and David Semerad took down Raymond Almazan, Mark Cruz and Rey Nambatac.
Bryan Sajonia followed up his 17-point performance in Game 1 last Wednesday with 21 points.
His showing in the race-to-two affair earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Finals trophy.
For Escueta, it was all about his wards’ resolve to finish the series despite the challenge from the Knights.
“These players showed character today that they really wanted to win. They never gave up and locked on defensively,” said Escueta.
“It is a product of their hard work.”
In a separate interview for DAILY TRIBUNE, Escueta said they made adjustments with their plays when they got the confirmation last Friday that Miller won’t be able to suit up for Game 2.
Escueta said they were looking back in their previous match against College of Saint Benilde in the Final Four for answers as they almost swept the Blazers even without Miller.
The guard from Fairfield, California was suspended after he was slapped with two technical fouls for flopping in Game 1 last Wednesday at the Big Dome.
“We already knew before practice so mentally, we were prepared,” Escueta said.
“In the Saint Benilde game, we only knew Janti wouldn’t play an hour and a half before the game.”
Hanging onto a 73-69 lead with less than two minutes left, San Beda showed championship composure.
A booming triple from Sajonia with 1:57 remaining ignited a 10-2 run that sealed the title for the Lions.
Yukien Andrada led San Beda with 21 points in his final NCAA game while Nygel Gonzales added 19 points.
Top rookie Jonathan Manalili led Letran with 15 points in a losing effort in their first finals appearance since 2022.
Knights head coach Allen Ricardo said they had no regrets.
“The experience from the finals will be big for us since it is still painful. We lost but we won’t give up,” Ricardo said.
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but the most important thing is how we handle the experience well for next season as we try to get the crown.”
Before the hostilities began in Game 2, College of Saint Benilde Allen Liwag was named the league MVP for the second straight time.
Liwag, who is currently in Thailand with Gilas Pilipinas for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, averaged 15.71 points, 9.0 rebounds, two assists and one block per game and became the first back-to-back MVP since Allwell Oraeme of Mapua University in 2015 and 2016.
Liwag also secured Mythical Team and the All-Defensive Team honors in his second year with the Blazers.
Also joining the Mythical Team are Kevin Santos and Manalili of Letran, Miller of San Beda and Jhuniel dela Rama of San Sebastian College.
Meanwhile, Dela Rama, Santos and Liwag join Cyrus Nitura of Mapua and Ivan Panapanaan of Jose Rizal University in the Defensive Team for Season 101.
Manalili also bagged both Rookie of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards after averaging 14.087 points, 8.92 assists and 5.15 boards.
