The Zark’s-Lyceum Jawbreakers were forced into a familiar place on Tuesday. The Jawbreakers are down 0-1 to Che’lu San Sebastian Revellers in the 2018 D-League Aspirants’s Cup Finals, as they bowed in Game One, 103-107.
The last time the Pirates were in the same predicament was in the NCAA Season 93 Seniors Basketball Finals. Up against San Beda, the Red Lions wasted Lyceum’s perfect run in the elimination round.
The fear of that taking place once more has reared its ugly head.
However, Zark’s-Lyceum head coach Topex Robinson remains undaunted by what happened, saying that they are even taking the defeat to the veteran-laden Revellers — their first in the 2018 Aspirants’ Cup playoffs — in stride.
“Losing gives you a lot of lessons as long as you know how to accept losing,” said the youthful mentor. “I always tell them we have to fall forward. You cannot fall back. Just fall forward, keep on growing, keep on improving.
“This is a best-of-three, and there’s no crying over spilled milk. We just have to move forward.”
Robinson tipped his hat to Che’lu, who received plenty of contributions — especially from veteran Samboy De Leon and San Sebastian Stags Michael Calisaan and Allyn Bulanadi — in the wake of Jeff Viernes’ departure to the PBA.
“Che’lu made it here not because they are lucky. They’re a good team.
“They’re the better team this afternoon. There’s still tomorrow for us, an opportunity for us to bounce back. They’re the better team,” he shared. “I have to give credit to them.”
But Robinson admitted that with the deficit they face, the pressure is now on the Jawbreakers. A loss in Game Two this Thursday would mean the end of their campaign and would spell another bridesmaid finish.
“I think right now the pressure’s on us,” the former PBA cager bared. “But again, this is the game of basketball. You win games, you lose games.”
Still, Robinson vowed that his Jawbreakers will give it their all in Game Two, which is now a do-or-die for them.
“We will always play,” he said. “We will always give our very best. It’s about peace of mind knowing that you did your best. Yun lang talaga yung bibigay mo at the end of the day, as long as you know in your heart na yun yung best mo.
“If we’re going to lose another game or if we’re gonna win the Finals, life goes on for us.”
