Give And Go
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
You do not go string up eight straight victories and say it is a fluke. One must be doing something right and effective to achieve such a feat especially amid tough competition, much like what is happening for the Lyceum Pirates in the ongoing Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
To date, the Intramuros-based Pirates have won eight games in a row, the lone unbeaten team in the tournament, with a really great shot at fashioning out a sweep of their first-round assignments had games yesterday in the country’s longest-standing collegiate league not postponed due to inclement weather.
The situation Lyceum is currently in has it having its best start in men’s basketball since joining the NCAA in 2011.
What is doing it for the Pirates in Season 93? The answer is pretty simple. They are making things happen.
They are winning the games they are supposed to win while finding ways to hack out victories in matches deemed up for grabs, or even where they are considered at a disadvantage.
Case in point was their last game on Aug. 18 against erstwhile streaking Letran Knights where they fought their way back from some 17 points down to claim the win, 75-68.
To be honest, Lyceum teams of the past would have just folded when confronted with such a deficit but not this edition of the Pirates which has been fighting from start to finish.
Having a more “complete” and seasoned roster has definitely done wonders for Lyceum, enabling to be several notches higher more competitive.
The addition of NCAA-comebacking player CJ Perez has been a boon to the team with his do-it-all ways, allowing Lyceum to have flexibility in its roster and attack. It is also a big plus that he is clutch, providing the plays on both ends of the court when needed.
With the way he is playing, I would not be surprised if at the end of the tournament he is judged as most valuable player.
Veteran play has been steady as well for the Pirates so far.
Guys like Mike Nzeusseu, Jesper Ayaay, Reymar Caduyac and Wilson Baltazar, while not outright dominant, have been consistently delivering for the team and proven themselves ready to take over when their numbers are called.
Cameroonian Nzeusseu, for example, was big when they won over Letran, pouring in most of his 13 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the final canto to frustrate their opponents en route to the win.
Such stepping-up from its players has Lyceum really hard to predict and one must be on its toes against it.
Then there are the young guns led by the Marcelino twins – Jaycee and Jayvee — who have given added bounce to the team with their spirited play and ability to surprise as well.
Of course, credit should be given to the Lyceum coaching staff, led by head coach Topex Robinson.
Obviously the early birth pains that Robinson and the rest of the team had to endure in the previous years are now bearing fruits.
Robinson has done a solid job in keeping the team level-headed and focused on what they need to do despite the early success they are enjoying.
This is apart from the firm grasp he has of the personnel they have to steadily execute their Xs and Os, from their multipronged offensive attack all the way to their suffocating pressure defense.
From the looks of things, Lyceum could well sweep their first-round assignments with the second round still very much promising.
Whether that translates to a first-ever NCAA title, I think the verdict is still out. But make no mistake, the Pirates are for real. And the field should take notice in case it has not so.
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
