NOW that they’ve had the feel of a championship game, the Lyceum Pirates won’t be able to offer any excuses anymore.
Coach Topex Robinson said the Pirates will need to hold their ground against the defending champion San Beda Red Lions and match their aggressiveness in order to even the series in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association best-of-three men’s basketball finals.
“I told the players na hindi na tayo bago sa championship. With that loss, there’s no more excuse to say that we’re new to this,” said Robinson.
The Red Lions boosted their bid for a 21st crown after handing Lyceum its first setback in the season, a 94-87 beating.
They have a chance to finish the championship series if they beat the Pirates at 3:30 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum.
Earlier, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies will go for a sweep of the best-of-three junior finals when they fight the defending champion Malayan High School Red Robins at 1 p.m. in Game 2.
For the Red Lions to wrap it, they will have to watch out for their turnovers and the pressing game of the Pirates.
“The players now understand that if we take care of the ball, we have a good chance of beating LPU,” said San Beda College mentor Boyet Fernandez.
He noted that they had 19 turnovers in Game 1, which was better than the 23 and 22 turnovers that they committed against the Pirates in their previous games.
In Game 1, Robert Bolick Jr. came up with his best game of the season with 24 points.
Bolick Jr. and Javee Mocon spoiled the Pirates’ looming celebration with spirited endgame plays in the fourth period.
Donald Tankoua led SBC with a 27-point, 20-rebound performance. He then took charge after Lyceum’s Mike Nzeusseu scored on another inside play in the final 1:42.
With the Pirates threatening, 82-83, Bolick scored on a triple and then he converted three freebies and a driving shot after the Pirates turned the ball over following misses by Season MVP CJ Perez.