NCAA: Lyceum hopes win over San Beda sparks winning trend

Lyceum Pirates celebrate after taking down the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.–NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The NCAA Season 101 hasn’t been kind to Lyceum.

That may all change after Tuesday, though, following the Pirates’ upset of San Beda, 78-66, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

READ: NCAA: Lyceum banks on Joshua Moralejo in upset of San Beda

At least, that’s what coach Gilbert Malabanan is hoping for.

“We feel very happy. It’s good to be back on the winning track,” Malabanan said. “Hopefully, this is the start of our team’s peak.”

The Pirates started the season flat, dropping their first five games in Group A.

Lyceum would soon break through at the expense of Jose Rizal University, but only to be followed by a two-game skid.

On Tuesday, the Pirates snapped out of their slump after stunning the Group B leaders Red Lions for just their second win of the season.

“They showed our best game of the season, not just by winning but with their communication and trust,” Malabanan said.

READ: NCAA: Benilde gets back at Mapua in league’s return to Rizal Memorial

“They sacrificed their scoring, rebounding, everything, for the sake of this team. I think that’s what we really need to do. Sacrifice,” he added.

Much like Malabanan, Joshua Moralejo is also hoping that the team was finally able to find the winning formula.

Moralejo played hero for Lyceum, finishing with 24 points, highlighted by a fourth-quarter scoring surge, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

“Last year, we were unpredictable; anyone could step in and be the best player. But this season, I think that is not the case anymore,” the 5-foot-10 guard said.

“We just grabbed the opportunity because in the past games, we would always collapse late in games. We saw a chance to win and we grabbed it,” he added.