Lyceum Pirates.–NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Only a week into the NCAA Season 99, Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan seemed like he simply ran via the gauntlet after his group’s escape over Perpetual Assistance on Saturday.
Malabanan dragged his toes to the media room for the customary post-game press convention and let loose an enormous sigh of reduction and exhaustion.
In any case, Malabanan simply steered Lyceum to an ideal begin however not after three pulsating victories–two of which got here on the expense of final yr’s finalists Faculty of St. Benilde and Letran.
Malabanan, although, wouldn’t have it another approach.
“With me, I might even prefer to take these sorts of video games even when it’s early within the season as a result of within the subsequent video games, there’ll be extra like this however what I appreciated most about my group right this moment is that they weren’t rattled,” stated Malabanan, whose squad’s successful margin in its first three video games is 2.6 factors, in Filipino after the 76-73 squeaker.
There’s additionally a development to Lyceum’s first three wins.
“(JM) Bravo was our greatest participant within the first recreation, then it turned (Shawn) Umali and now Enoch (Valdez),” Malabanan stated.
“That is what I’ve been saying since final season till now. My group could be very unpredictable, as you’ll be able to see in our scoring, it’s balanced. Anyone could be the very best participant right here.”
The unpredictability is exactly the explanation why the Pirates are No. 1 early within the season.
However Lyceum couldn’t care any much less concerning the standings so far as massive man Shawn Umali is anxious with the Pirates solely centered on successful the elusive title.
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“We don’t even have a look at the place we’re [in the standings]. All we’ll do is have fun this win right this moment and tomorrow we go to work immediately,” stated Umali, who posted seven factors and eight rebounds in opposition to the Altas.