The 18-0 regular season slate of the Lyceum Pirates turned into just a footnote in the 93-year history of the NCAA.
In the two games of the NCAA Season 93 Seniors Basketball Finals, the league-leaders turned second fiddle to the San Beda Red Lions, crumbling under the bright lights of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum in the end game of both matches.
Still, when the Pirates slowly made their way out of the Big Dome, they still had their heads up high. Though they finished only second this season, Lyceum have still completed arguably the biggest turnaround in league history, leaping from ninth place to second in a span of a year.
“It’s a good experience pa rin para sa amin. ‘Di kami mag-excuse na first time namin, pero at least, binigay namin yung best namin sa game na ‘to,” said reigning Most Valuable Player CJ Perez.
“Madami pa [kaming tatahakin], ‘di pa naman nagtatapos dito ang basketball.”
Lyceum’s do-it-all forward Perez was spectacular in the Finals, averaging 23.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in the series. Even with this stellar numbers, he and the Pirates struggled in the end game. And Game 2 was a microcosm of the entire series.
After tallying 22 points in the first three quarters of the game, the 188-centimeter tall forward was held scoreless in the final frame.
“Siguro, mas composed sila pag end game pero para sa amin, magandang season pa rin ‘to para sa amin,” said the 23-year-old, trying to hide the bitter taste left by the loss. “Masaya kami kasi at least, binigay namin yung best namin, wala kaming pinagsisisihan. Kahit natalo kami, at least, yung buo namin, binigay namin. Yun nga, nabitin, pero magandang experience para sa amin.”
The heart and soul of Lyceum is not promising anything for next season, however.
Entering the 94th season of the Grand Old League, the Pirates will no longer have the luxury of surprising their opponents. Together with San Beda, they will now be viewed as the league’s predators.
Perez is hoping that they will stay together through this ordeal as they build on this for their new campaign.
“Nung nagpapanalo na kami, ‘di kami nagbibitaw sa isa’t-isa. ‘Di sakin nag-umpisa, sa amin nag-umpisa yung culture. ‘Di yun magbabago. Kahit matapos yung season, ‘di kami maghihiwa-hiwalay,” said Perez, who will play his final year next season.
“We’re not gonna promise anything. Siyempre, lalaruin lang namin basketball namin. Pagtapos nito, kinabukasan, yun na ang start ng Season 94 sa amin.”
