Coming off a huge win against the San Beda Red Lions, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates tried to duplicate the feat by toppling another contender. Though not displaying the same effort as they did last Friday, the Pirates were able to do just enough to fend off the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags, 78-73, Friday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With their third straight win to start the season, the Pirates achieved a milestone as this is the team’s best start in the NCAA. Still, San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson continues to preach that this is just the start of the season and that they won’t celebrate until they are hoisting the championship trophy.
“Now everyone wants to beat us and we have to find a way to play a level higher,” Robinson said.
Former San Sebastian Golden Stag CJ Perez filled up the stat sheet once more, finishing the game with 20 points, spiked by three triples, to go along with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
“Matagal na rin yun pero nandun pa rin yung goal na manalo,” said Perez, who played for San Sebastian back in the 90th season of the league.
But it was not just Perez who stepped up to the plate when things got chippy between the two squads as utility forward MJ Ayaay connected on the game’s biggest shot.
After Reymar Caduyac found Mike Nzeusseu underneath to stop a two-minute Lyceum scoring drought that turned the game into a two possession ball game with 1:06 left, a miss by Michael Calisaan led to Caduyac finding Ayaay for a corner triple that served as the game’s dagger.
“Actually, we just played our basketball, making stops. They know that San Sebastian is a physical team but you just have to trust these individuals,” said Robinson.
Ayaay added 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting while Nzeusseu notched a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Lyceum led by as much as 11 points, 70-59, with 6:45 left but turnovers and errors by Lyceum gave life to San Sebastian.
“It’s just us beating ourselves. Medyo nanggigil sila but they are allowed to make mistakes. It’s part of our growth,” remarked Robinson as the Pirates committed 27 turnovers in the contest.
More than their personal errors, the Pirates also needed to overcome a monster outing by Michael Calisaan, who finished the game with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Allyn Bulanadi added 16 points and nine boards.
“I guess it’s perseverance and not giving up. It was a tough game and they gave us a run for our money,” Robinson praised of San Sebastian, a team that fell to 1-2. “Credit goes to the players and they never gave up.”
Lyceum takes on the Arellano Chiefs on Tuesday, July 25 at 2:00pm. San Sebastian will next host the JRU Heavy Bombers on Thursday, July 27 at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
LPU (78) – Perez 20, Ayaay 17, Nzeusseu 10, Baltazar 7, Marcelino JC 7, Marcelino JV 6, Tansingco 5, Caduyac 4, Marata 2, Ibanez 0, Santos 0, Pretta 0.
SSC-R (73) – Calisaan 28, Bulanadi 16, David 6, Ilagan 6, Gayosa 6, Valdez 5, Navarro 3, Calma 2, Capobres 1, Baetiong 0, Costelo 0, Mercado 0, Are 0.
Quarterscores: 23-17, 43-39, 63-55, 78-73
