Published October 19, 2025 4:13pm
Updated October 19, 2025 4:13pm
NCAA Season 101. October 18, 2025. Titing Manalili (13) of the Letran Knights against the LPU Pirates. (Photo: Thomas Villanueva)
Titing Manalili did a little bit of everything in Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s escape against Lyceum of the Philippines University on Saturday.
The crafty guard dropped 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists to help the Knights fend off the upset-minded Pirates with a 95-93 thrilling overtime victory and capture their third straight win after a gloomy 0-3 start.
The rookie playmaker’s performance is now in the history books as his 15-assist outing became the highest one since Arellano University legend Jio Jalalon unleashed 16 in against Jose Rizal University on August 27, 2015.
But the first-year Manalili said his triple-double would not matter had they completely collapsed against the winless LPU.
“Naka-focus pa rin ako sa panalo lalo na nu’ng nag-overtime. Wala ring saysay ‘yung nagawa ko this game kung natalo kami. Sabi ko lang, itawid lang natin ‘to and tsaka na ‘yung celebration,” Manalili said.
“Sabi ko naman sa kanila na sa una lang ‘to mahirap pero ‘pag naukha natin ‘yung unang panalo may kumpiyansa tayo.”
But it wasn’t just a Manalili show for the Knights.
That OT escape also saw Kevin Santos and Jimboy Estrada both finish with a double-double after the former collected 16 points and 11 rebounds while Manalili’s backcourt tandem in Estrada churned out 15 markers and 10 boards.
Aaron Buensalida, who was huge in the extra period, tallied nine boards and seven points.
Head coach Allen Ricardo stressed this just proved that his team doesn’t rely on one man.
“Good thing na ang daming nag-double-double dito sa team namin. Magandang sign ‘yan na kahit sino capable of giving big shot for us, makakatulong ‘yan sa succeeding games namin,” the sophomore tactician said.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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