During Game One of the Lyceum Pirates’ Final Four showdown with the Letran Knights, it seemed that last season’s runners-up were on the verge of another meltdown. Leading by as much as 16 points in the first half, the Knights chipped into the deficit, eventually picking up a 56-55 lead just three minutes and 55 seconds into the third canto.
But then, something magical happened.
The Pirates played some of their best basketball this season, forcing turnovers and displaying beautiful ball movement. In a blink, Lyceum were holding an 81-64 lead to enter the final frame.
“It’s magical. It’s like, para kang nananaginip, ‘di mo alam na totoo pala. You have to – sometimes, I think we have to keep reminding ourselves just to be at the moment,” recalled Pirates mentor Topex Robinson.
“I never even dreamt of this game. What’s important is how we take care of the now, we keep on playing, we keep on doing what we’re doing, regardless what the score is.”
During that spurt, seldom-used players like Nino Ibanez, Jeff Santos, and Spencer Pretta provided the spark. It was as if they were possessed.
Pretta ended up with a career-high 15 points, while Ibanez and Santos finished with an efficiency rating of plus-12 and plus-14, respectively.
Prior to the game, the Pirates did not hold practice, instead going on a team-building exercise.
“Again at the end of the day, it’s really, the love for each other is really important. Love conquers all.
“Cheesy might be the word but if they know that you love them, and they know that they love you, magic comes. There’s trust. We keep on reminding them that it’s not about the wins but how we’ll work together as a team,” Robinson added.
And it resulted in one of the most dominant performances by the Pirates in the last two years.
