By: Brenn Allen Flores
Despite missing key players Mclaude Guadaña, JM Bravo, and Michael Versoza for most of the season, Lyceum of the Philippines University is now one win away from returning to the NCAA Seniors Basketball Final Four.
The Pirates fielded a complete and healthy lineup for the first time this season, defeating Emilio Aguinaldo College, 74-65, to move closer to securing a Final Four berth.
For Lyceum’s head coach Gilbert Malabanan, the return of healthy players has brought excitement and optimism for the Pirates’ playoff pursuit.
“‘Yon naman talaga gusto natin as a head coach, hindi naman manalo, matalo, second nalang yan. Makita ko lang yong mga anak ko – or sabihin natin – mga players ko na healthy, I’m happy with that and I’m so very, very excited with that,” said Malabanan after the game.
Bravo, who was sidelined for most of the first round after sustaining a spine injury on Sept. 12 against San Sebastian College-Recoletos, was again benched in the second round after collapsing on the court due to a head collision on Oct. 19 against Arellano University.
Bravo returned against EAC, contributing a few points but grabbing seven rebounds, including a critical offensive board that sealed the game for the Pirates.
Malabanan admitted they had planned to play Bravo in recent games against San Sebastian and Jose Rizal University but chose to wait for medical clearance, which came just last Wednesday.
“Actually dapat noong Baste pa dapat siya maglalaro, tapos JRU, pero siyempre ayoko naman pilitin na without the permission to play na galing sa doctor nga. Lumabas noong Wednesday na so ‘yon kaya pinaglaro ko na,” he recalled.
In addition to Bravo, the Pirates also missed the contributions of Versoza and Guadaña at the start of the second round.
Despite this, Lyceum fought its way back into Final Four contention from fifth place with a 4-5 win-loss record in the first round, thanks to standout performances from Ato Barba and rookie Jonathan Daileg, who both led the team while others were sidelined.
Even with a playoff berth on the line in a potential tie scenario with EAC and Colegio San Juan de Letran, the Pirates face a tough challenge in clinching the last Final Four spot as they prepare to meet top-seeded College of Saint-Benilde in their final game.
“We’re going to enjoy this, but tomorrow we go back to the drawing board, and we’re going to look up into Benilde na last game namin, kasi ‘yon magiging crucial sa amin,” Malabanan said.
“I don’t want lang na mga players ko na maging confident, na maging kumpiyansa. I want them to play hard pa rin kasi hindi pa tapos yung goal namin, meron pa kaming isang game and ang goal namin is to go in the Final Four bago pa namin isipin yong mga next.”
