For six games, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates seemed invulnerable, winning by an average margin 21.0 points per contest.
Thursday evening, the league-leaders were able to escape the EAC Sports and Cultural Center with their seventh victory. However, unlike their past six wins, they needed to overcome.
“Sabi ko kay [EAC] coach Ariel [Sison], you made us better after this game. You really… Kumbaga hanggang dulo, nandun sila. We need games like this,” said Lyceum assistant coach Jeff Perlas, who was part of the coaching staff of the National University’s UAAP Season 77 team.
Already facing a partisan EAC crowd, the Pirates lost head coach Topex Robinson for the game after he was assessed two quick technical fouls during the 6:41 mark of the second frame.
Still, even when the Pirates were faced with an unfamiliar situation, it was the student-athletes of Lyceum who made the call to show their true mettle.
Up by just two points with 1:10 left, CJ Perez called for an isolation play before soaring through the air for a beautiful lay-up over two defenders. EAC did not back down, though, as Rustan Bugarin answered right back on the other end.
“Yun nga ang magandang gawin namin, i-push pa yung mga ginagawa namin para masustain namin yung larong ganito,” reflected early MVP candidate Perez.
“Napakaganda nung laro, yung puso talaga at inspiration nandun para manalo sa game.”
A slip by Francis Munsayac in the crucial moment of the game led to a Jaycee Marcelino fast break to seal the win.
“Yung EAC di talaga sila gumive-up hanggang sa huli. Buti nalang nung huli naka-score at naka-stop kami, we’re just lucky on that last play,” admitted Perez, who finished the game with 20 points, three rebounds, and five assists.
Though the team sports a clean 7-0 slate, Perez, who was the central piece to Lyceum’s on-going turnaround, believes that they are not a powerhouse team, emphasizing that it was their team play that led them here.
“Patunay yun na hindi talaga kami malakas. Yung nagpapanalo sa amin yung pag-play namin together.”
