Prior to Friday afternoon, the league-leading Lyceum Pirates had never experienced facing a double-digit deficit. But against the Letran Knights, they fell behind by as many as 17 points in the second frame.
Lacking the energy that had given them a 7-0 start, Lyceum needed a spark. And it was NCAA Season 92 Rookie of the Year Mike Nzeusseu who heeded the call.
“Letran started the game strong. They wanted to give us that first loss. But I really wanted to get the win too, you know,” the Cameroonian student-athlete recounted.
“So when the fourth quarter started, I was like, ‘This is the last quarter, there is no more tomorrow. We have to give everything right now.”
“May rim protector ka doon. He doesn’t have to be on offense na siya yung center sa offense. Pero dun sa defensive side doon talaga napapakinabangan,” said Lyceum assistant coach Jeff Perlas, who was taking the lead on the sidelines, as Topex Robinson was suspended for one game.
“I was challenging him: ‘Mike, the players of Letran are already tired. So every shot na bibitawan nila, I know you will get that rebound’.”
Nzeusseu did everything on both ends to lift his teammates and the huge Lyceum contingent in attendance, as he blocked crucial shots in the final frame and created second chance baskets.
He created such a big impact in Lyceum’s come-from-behind win, shattering Letran’s hopes of handing them their first loss, 75-68.
“We were not thinking that we might lose.
“We were just thinking of keeping on playing because at the end of the day it is not about how you started, it’s how you finish the game,” said Nzeusseu, who finished the game with 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks — all above his norms of 11.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.
With one more game left in the first round against Mapua University, and with a still-perfect record of 8-0, the Lyceum sophomore remains hungry.
“We need to win first against Mapua before we can talk about the sweep,” Nzeusseu pointed out.
“Every time we come to the game, we just wanna play our best no matter who we are playing against.”
By: Danine Cruz
