Next man up: San Beda eyes NCAA crown sans suspended star Janti Miller

MANILA, Philippines – Can San Beda get the job done in Game 2 without its star rookie Janti Miller?  

It’s going to be a next man up mentality for the Red Lions as they look to close out their best-of-three NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball finals series against their archrival Letran Knights minus the services of their high-scoring wingman Miller in Game 2 on Saturday, December 13. 

The Filipino-American Miller got tossed out late in San Beda’s 89-70 Game 1 win at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, December 10, after picking up two technical fouls; one for faking a foul, and another one for a double foul with Knights guard Deo Cuajao, leading to an automatic one-game suspension as confirmed by NCAA commissioner Rico Quicho. 

Prior to his ejection, Miller had 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting, a team-high 9 rebounds, and 2 assists in close to 31 minutes of play. 

For San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta, the Red Lions are no strangers to this scenario as they also played without Miller in Game 2 of their best-of-three semifinals versus the College of St. Benilde Blazers just last December 3. 

Miller — who averaged a league-best 19.7 points in the elimination round — sat out that match due to a right knee contusion as the Blazers escaped the undermanned Red Lions by the skin of their teeth, 77-75, off a buzzer-beater by Ian Torres. 

“We have to be ready. We’ve been in this situation before, we’ve played CSB without Janti and we had opportunities to win,” said Escueta. 

“Like I told you guys, basketball is a 5-on-5 sport. It’s not 1-on-5, it’s not 2-on-5, I have trust in the five guys who are playing. It would be nice to have Janti, but if Janti won’t be available, other guys need to step up,” added Escueta in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Miller, for his part, emphasized that he has full trust in his teammates to deliver in Game 2 — set at 2 pm on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum — as they hope to finish off the Titing Manalili-led Knights for their 24th championship and their second title in three seasons.   

“I’m very confident in my team. Like I said, I got out with 7 minutes [remaining in the game] and they kept the game under control. I feel like they can play without me,” said Miller. – Rappler.com