Defending champions San Beda College Red Lions and upstarts Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates figured in an early season classic, Friday night. It was a nip and tuck affair that saw six deadlocks and seven lead changes.
However, the Pirates displayed fearlessness in the end game, constantly driving through the lanes and challenging San Beda’s frontline. Lyceum scored a whopping 52 of its points in the paint that helped hand San Beda a 91-96 loss.
Returning San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez believes that their line-up is equipped to match up against Lyceum. But according to the decorated mentor, they struggled to contain their opponents due to getting into foul trouble early in the final frame.
“That’s why we have a fifteen man line-up. We know that they would play small,” said the 45-year-old mentor.
“It’s just a matter of…We got into foul trouble.”
Javee Mocon, who finished the game with 12 markers, struggled in the final frame as he committed two of his three fouls during that span. Nigerian student-athlete Arnaud Noah, who had nine points in the game, also fouled out with 4:20 remaining.
San Beda as a team committed 25 fouls that led to 35 free throw attempts for Lyceum. And as the game wore on, the Red Lions became wary of keeping close with the Pirates.
“Ang line-up kasi namin, we have match-up for small or big [line-ups]. But we never stopped their offense,” Fernandez furthered. “We know that Lyceum is a really good team. Giving up 96 points is not our defense.
“So if we want to beat LPU we can’t play them offense on offense, we have to make stops. They really scored at will.
“As what I’ve said, I take that blame, we’ll go back and prepare for our next game,” he closed.
