Published September 13, 2023 7:17pm
Updated September 13, 2023 7:17pm
Ever since 2017, Lyceum of the Philippines University has been thought-about as a contender within the NCAA males’s basketball competitions.
That 12 months, the Pirates, led by CJ Perez and Mike Nzeusseu, swept the Season 93 elimination spherical with an ideal 18-0 card to rearrange a finals duel with San Beda University.
But the Pirates could not get the job executed, falling to the mighty Red Lions, which then nonetheless had Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, and Donald Tankoua, within the championship spherical.
They bounced again the next season as Lyceum returned to the finals of Season 94. But once more, the Pirates couldn’t resolve the San Beda puzzle, falling anew because the Red Lions copped their third straight crown.
And new staff captain Enoch Valdez is out to rewrite some historical past as he seems to steer Lyceum again to the finals and hopefully rule the upcoming NCAA Season 99.
“Gusto kong madala ‘yung team ko sa finals, ‘yun talaga ‘yung goal ko kasi parang gusto kong gumawa ng history din e. Kasi ‘pag individual lang, hindi naman nila maaalala ‘yun e,” Valdez instructed GMA Integrated News.
“Kumbaga ‘yung history na nadala mo ‘yung Lyceum sa finals, ‘yun ‘yung goal ko. Naiinggit ako kila Kuya CJ kasi do’n na nagsimula na makilala ‘yung Lyceum e pero gusto ko pang higitan.”
(“I want to bring my team to the finals, that’s my goal because I want to make history. Because if it’s just individual achievements, no one remembers that… The history you make by bringing Lyceum to the finals, that’s my goal. I’m jealous of Kuya CJ because that’s when Lyceum began to be recognized, but I want to do more.”)
Lyceum’s succeeding campaigns have seen them get shut.
In each Season 95 and Season 98, the Pirates managed to make it to the Final Four however didn’t advance after dropping within the stepladder spherical and semifinals, respectively, in opposition to the identical opponent in Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
But it will likely be robust for the 6-foot-3 Valdez, who should lead a Lyceum facet that misplaced a key participant in do-it-all guard Renzo Navarro, who has utilized for the PBA Draft.
But Valdez is aware of his staff has the potential to win all of it, particularly with the likes of John Barba, JM Bravo, Vince Cunanan, Mclaude Guadana, and Shawn Umali tipped to assist him carry the load within the upcoming season.
“I know naman na we have the potential kasi sobrang lakas ng lineup namin ngayon,” Valdez added.
“Sobrang excited na i-lead kasi ‘yung mga age naman namin hindi gano’n kalayo and sanay naman na ako kasi last season, co-captain naman ako so kumbaga nagsasalita na rin talaga ako.”
(“I know we have the potential because we have a very strong lineup this season… I’m so excited to lead because our ages aren’t so far from each other, and I’m used to it because I was co-captain last season so I’ve been vocal already.”)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
