NCAA: Aggressive defense key in Lyceum win over Mapua, says coach

Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan. NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan wants to see more aggressiveness from his team after taking down last season’s runner-up Mapua for its first win in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament.

The Pirates were locked in defensively on Wednesday, smothering the Cardinals to just 29 percent from the field including 6-of-22 from the three-point area.

“About our defense, it’s all about aggressiveness. If we are not aggressive, whatever I make my players do, it’s useless. Effort and aggressiveness are what we really need,” Malabanan said after their 76-67 win over Mapua.

Malabanan also commended his team’s offensive execution which wasn’t the case in the Pirates’ blowout loss to College of St. Benilde last Sunday.

“I liked the way my team ran our offense because they are now sharing the ball unlike our game against College of St. Benilde. Maybe they had first game jitters,” he said.

The Pirates had 19 assists with only 11 turnovers against the Cardinals.

“Last game, I really got mad at them because in the preseason, we saw our real game. That game (against St. Benilde) was not us,” Malabanan said.