Romwel Anzures

Colegio de San Juan de Letran star Titing Manalili (#13) and head coach Allen Ricardo in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo by Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines.

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ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1.5"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765122528334IMG_1769.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Colegio de San Juan de Letran star Titing Manalili (#13) and head coach Allen Ricardo in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball Final 4. <em>Photo by Angela Davocol/NCAA Philippines.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Despite going winless in their first three games and needing to erase a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals to avoid elimination, Colegio de San Juan de Letran still managed to find its way back to the NCAA men’s basketball championship stage.</div><p style="line-height:1.5">This run eventually set up a rivalry showdown in the Season 101 Finals against San Beda University, and head coach Allen Ricardo is soaking in the experience.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/7/ncaa-san-beda-kicks-out-benilde-sets-up-rivalry-clash-vs-letran-in-finals-1642">READ: San Beda kicks out Benilde, sets up rivalry clash vs. Letran in Finals</a></div><p style="line-height:1.5">“It’s a dream come true,” said Ricardo, who watched the Red Lions eliminate College of Saint Benilde via an 84-81 Game 3 win in the Best-of-3 semifinals on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“There’s always pressure, but that is a privilege for us now that we’re in the championship,” he reflected.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">A product of the Muralla-based institution himself, Ricardo has witnessed Letran and San Beda slug it out in the Finals countless times.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">Now, as he takes part in the storied matchup for the first time as a coach, he understands what it will take to bring down the Red Lions.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“It’s a matter of mental preparation,” said the second-year Knights head tactician, who once worked for former Letran mentor Louie Alas as a skills coach without salary.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">But while Ricardo and his Knights have already carved their names into the program’s rich history by defying the odds, he maintains that all of it would be meaningless if they fail to deliver the crown.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“We have to write our own history,” he emphasized.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/7/letran-san-beda-bout-fitting-as-first-finals-matchup-in-the-ncaa-s-newest-century-2309">READ: Letran, San Beda bout fitting as first Finals matchup in the NCAA’s newest century</a></div><p style="line-height:1.5">To achieve that, Letran has to go through a dangerous San Beda side that boasts the likes of Janti Miller, Yuki Andrada, and Bryan Sajonia.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">Ricardo acknowledged the strength of this core, but he remains confident that his troops have already learned how to navigate those challenges.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“[Our players] know their roles. And yun ang importante, kaya they remain composed both offensively and defensively,” he said.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">Now, it is up to the Knights to defy the odds once again, especially with Ricardo stressing how crucial it is to draw first blood in Game 1 of the Best-of-3 affair on Wednesday, December 10, still at the Big Dome.</p><p style="line-height:1.5">“Mahirap kunin yung unang panalo, so yun yung tina-target namin,” he said.</p><div style="line-height:1.5"><br/></div><div style="line-height:1.5"><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="line-height:1.5"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k0pMPHwbZOo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>From going winless in their first three games to needing to win two straight times in the quarterfinals just to avoid elimination, only one team now stands between Letran and the #NCAASeason101 men’s basketball championship. </p>

From going winless in their first three games to needing to win two straight times in the quarterfinals just to avoid elimination, only one team now stands between Letran and the #NCAASeason101 men’s basketball championship.

NCAA: Letran eager to ‘write own history’ in rivalry Finals bout against San Beda

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NCAA: Letran eager to ‘write own history’ in rivalry Finals bout against San Beda

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 08, 2025 09:00 AM PHT

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Basketball

NCAA

ABSSports

NCAA Season 101

NCAA Basketball

NCAA Finals

San Beda Red Lions

Letran Knights

Allen Ricardo

Titing Manalili

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