Having manners can be a wonderful thing.
The teams were locked at 1-1 at half-time at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella after a pair of own goals. But midfielder Manners beat "Naps" custodian Curtis Julien twice in 14 minutes.
Despite Cory Cyrus handing the South Zone champs a lifeline in between, San Juan did enough to keep the title in the East, after St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive won it last year.
San Juan were off to a good start in the encounter, scoring in the seventh minute. But they had Naps defender Isaiah Smith to thank, his attempt at blocking a shot on goal deflecting the ball past Julien.
But San Juan repaid the favour, as goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel unfortunately put the ball into his own net trying to keep out a cross.
In the second period, the life seemed to be petering out of the match somewhat, until Manners struck in the 73rd.
Jessel Arthur collected a throw in and squared to the San Juan captain at the edge of the 18-metre box and Manners calmly picked his spot and drove beneath a diving Julien.
San Juan looked good for the win until Cyrus took full advantage of a defensive blunder, sticking out a foot between defender Jamal Spencer and the onrushing Samuel to flick the ball into goal.
The home crowd's lusty celebrations were soon muted in the 87th. Manners showed his class in attack, holding off challenges by four defenders, before thumping a low shot to Julien's right to the delight of San Juan's vociferous supporters.
Midfielder Shahdon Winchester tried to save Naps with a stab at goal in the 90th, which Samuel parried wide.
Another national title for Naps was not to be this time, as the final whistle confirmed. Sometimes playing with heart just isn't enough.
As the San Juan supporters celebrated, the dejected Naparima fans applauded their team for a valiant effort.
A middle-aged San Juan supporter showed his joy by jumping in front of television cameras, shouting: "I have to be on TV, boy! I done spend all my money. This is the right time!"
Undoubtedly, after all the years without a national league title, it certainly was for San Juan.
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