‘Inspired’ Pirates look to create right inspiration
Lyceum wants to be an inspiration to its community with a strong performance in its NCAA men’s basketball campaign, but the Pirates got an inspiration themselves to continue their winning ways.
Asian Games (Asiad) gold medalist and Lyceum alum CJ Perez showed support to his alma mater on Sunday, just hours removed from Gilas’ historic championship in China, as the Pirates clinched their sixth consecutive win and maintained a vise-like grip on top.
“CJ was a big factor because he just won an [Asiad] championship and the Pirates saw their idol [supporting from the sidelines],” Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan told reporters on the heels of the Pirates’ 67-62 triumph over San Beda at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
“The players want to fill in the shoes of CJ and it was a huge motivation for them to see him. They deserved the win,” Malabanan added.
Now a target
With their winning streak continuing to build, the Pirates mentor admits that they acquired a target on their backs as victories become harder to achieve.
But Lyceum’s composure allowed them to get stops while getting a hefty contribution as well from the bench, which chipped in 44 points.
“I just told them one thing: It’s our game, we will win this. They believed in themselves to get the victory,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from Perez, the Pirates are also eyeing to inspire others. However, Lyceum is encountering problems in that aspect with Shawn Umali’s late-game antics despite their lead.
“Sometimes as a head coach, we cannot control what our players will do on the court but I take the blame whatever his (Umali) actions were. But we won’t stop reminding Shawn and other players to be better because we want to inspire people in the right way,” Malabanan went on.
Earning a foul after a huge rebound, the big man sank a free throw before flashing a shushing gesture at the Red Lions faithful that earned him a warning and the ire of San Beda’s Damie Cuntapay. The referee slapped both players with technical fouls.
Having an unsportsmanlike foul earlier, Umali got ejected and could possibly face a one-game suspension ahead of the Pirates’ clash with Emilio Aguinaldo College. INQ
