NCAA: Manalili ‘on track’ for return to bolster MVP bid, Letran’s playoff push

Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Titing Manalili in NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball. Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines.MANILA — While Colegio de San Juan de Letran has found its stride sans star playmaker Titing Manalili, the Cebuano guard is also “on track” to make his return from a right knee sprain later in their NCAA Season 102 campaign.

“He’s recovering well, but we still need to be cautious and patient with him,” a team insider told ABS-CBN News after the Knights’ 83-72 win over College of Saint Benilde on Tuesday.

Manalili is expected to return sometime in November, when the Knights face Emilio Aguinaldo College on Nov. 5 before taking on University of Perpetual Help five days later.

Aside from bolstering Letran’s bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals, Manalili’s return is also crucial for his eligibility in the Most Valuable Player race, where he currently leads Jose Rizal University’s Lawrence Mangubat and Arellano University’s T-Mc Ongotan.

The NCAA Season 101 Rookie of the Year is currently two appearances shy of meeting the 50% games-played requirement for award eligibility, averaging 13.8 points, 10.2 assists, 4.0 steals, and 3.4 rebounds in just five games this season.

The most important development for Letran head coach Allen Ricardo, however, is how the Knights have learned not to rely too heavily on Manalili.

“Satisfied ako right now,” he said, noting how the likes of Nath Montecillo and Justin Cargo have stepped up in the playmaking department for Letran. “They know where to go, and they know the action to the next action.”

For the third-year mentor, the Knights have developed a stronger belief in their system through back-to-back wins over contenders Jose Rizal University and Saint Benilde, making them an even tougher team once Manalili returns.

“Kahit na wala si Jonathan, they should be confident doon sa sistema,” he said. “So we just need to keep the game simple. Identify where to go, hanapin ang mga dapat hanapin.”

“‘Pag dating ni Jonathan, magiging confident din siya na ‘pag dumiin siya, meron ding sasalo sa kanya,” added Ricardo. “So we’re still trying to build momentum heading into the playoffs, and that’s the most important thing.”