Lyceum head coach Topex Robinson. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Head coach: Topex Robinson
Last season: 4-14 (ninth)
Key losses: Guy Mbida, Jean Victor Nguidjol, Jeremiah Taladua, Dexter Zamora
Key returnees: Joseph Gabayni, Wilson Baltazar
Key addition: Reymar Caduyac
Lyceum hopes its rookie-laden team will adapt to the NCAA game quickly as the Pirates are left without two of their veterans at the start of the league’s 92nd season.
Big man Joseph Gabayni figured in a motorcycle accident last month and is expected to miss the first round while guard Dexter Zamora was recently dropped out of the lineup due to “disciplinary” reason.
“I’ll be giving them two, three games to adjust sa season siyempre may mga jitters. Hopefully, they can adjust very quickly,” said Lyceum assistant coach Jeff Perlas, who filled in for head coach Topex Robinson during the league’s pre-season press conference Wednesday.
Robinson couldn’t make the presser due to his commitments with the Alaska Aces, where he also serves as assistant coach.
The Pirates also lost key players from last year with Cameroonian Jean Victor Nguidjol getting picked in the NBA D-League Draft late last year and Guy Mbida, Jeremiah Taladua and Joemari Lacastesantos have already exhausted their playing years.
Lyceum, though, is full of hope for its young roster as it tries to improve from its ninth place finish in Season 91.
Among the newcomers who the Pirates are expecting to make immediate impact is Reymar Caduyac, a former University of the East Junior Warriors standout.
“He’s a very promising player. Hopefully, magtuloy tuloy lang yung pagsisikap niya sa practice kasi eventually magiging leader siya ng team.”
The Pirates finished with the second-worst record last season with a 4-14 record. Perlas isn’t expecting much from his players other than to be competitive every single game.
“We just want to be competitive every game regardless if our skills don’t match with the likes of San Beda or other big schools. Plus, the morale of the team is positive and coach Topex has been motivating the players to play their game. He’s been giving the players freedom to show what they can do.”