Ilonggo Sajonia hailed as NCAA men’s hoops finals MVP

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Men’s Basketball Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an Ilonggo.

After back-to-back consistent outings for the San Beda Red Lions, John Bryan Sajonia, the pride of Pavia, Iloilo, was named the NCAA Finals MVP, helping the hopefuls from Mendiola reclaim glory after finally becoming kings of collegiate basketball once again.

On Dec. 13, 2025, Sajonia was officially awarded the recognition, highlighting San Beda’s 24th NCAA men’s basketball title with a performance for the ages.

Without the presence of their superstar Janti Miller, who was suspended after accumulating two technical fouls in Game 1, Sajonia stepped up when San Beda needed him most, dropping 21 big points in the title-clinching sweep in Game 2 against the Letran Knights, 83–71, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The former Santa Clarita International School of Iloilo standout provided the much-needed offensive lift for the Red Lions, turning a nine-point deficit into a slim lead with two minutes remaining in the second quarter.

After a slow start in the first quarter, Sajonia waxed hot in the following frame, dropping 10 markers that put head coach Yuri Escueta in the position they wanted to be in against a laser-focused Letran squad.

The Knights nearly broke the game wide open after mounting a nine-point advantage, but Sajonia detonated two huge three-point bombs, a layup, and a perfect trip to the free-throw line that prevented any stomping plans from Letran.

Sajonia also spearheaded a massive third-quarter rally, where the Red Lions started to pull away, backstopping the three-point barrage delivered by graduating team captain Yukien Andrada, who was unconscious from downtown.

The Knights gave their all after pulling within a single digit in the fourth, but the collective effort from Sajonia, Andrada, Nygel Gonzales, and Penny Estacio shut down any come-from-behind drama to wrap up NCAA Season 101 with the golden trophy.

“Every time na nasa akin ang bola, ako ang pinapa-desisyun nila,” said the Ilonggo NCAA champion during San Beda’s post-game interview.

“Sobrang saya. Dream ko talaga ’to eh. Siguro lahat naman ng college players, dream ’to—na makapag-champion. Sobrang thankful ako na napunta ako dito. Marami akong natutunan, at ayun, champion na ako.”