ALTHOUGH his team is still intact, Lyceum coach Jeff Perlas admitted everything is fluid.
That explains why he is already toughening up his young guns for the future.
“As of now, yes, we’re still intact but anything can still happen,” Perlas told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“Currently, we are developing our young guys like Mclaude Guadaña, John Barba, Enoch Valdez, John Bravo and the other young guys because they will be the cornerstone of LPU when the veterans graduate,” he added.
Aside from guard Reymar Caduyac, the Pirates lost 6-foot-6 Cameroonian import Mike Harry Nzeusseu, forwards Ralph Tansingco and Jeff Santos, and guard Spencer Pretta to graduation.
Twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino, who were both drafted in the pro league by Alaska and Phoenix, respectively, turned pro in 2019.
Hardworking big man Jayson David and Niño Ibañez, along with guard Renzo Navarro, are expected to lead Lyceum’s bid to win its first crown since joining the league in 2011.
Perlas is counting on former Gilas Pilipinas Youth member Mclaude Guadaña, along with fellow former Junior Pirate standout John Barba, high-scoring wingman John Bravo of First City Providential College, and former Letran Squire Shawn Umali to form Lyceum’s future.
The dreaded COVID-19 pandemic that has kept collegiate leagues on hold since early last year has also taken its toll on the players and coaches, according to Perlas.
“I kept myself busy researching, watching our games, reading books, and studying new ideas na puwede kong maidagdag sa team and continuously educating myself. It’s tough kasi in a way kakalawangin ka kaya I make sure na sa mga session namin hindi mawawala ang pagtuturo sa players,” he said.
“Also, I’m coaching my son dito sa bahay, teaching him skills para may application pa rin ako when it comes to teaching.”
After two straight finals stints in 2017 and 2018, the Intramuros-based five finished with a 13-5 record, good for second, after the elimination round in the last NCAA cage wars in 2019 but lost to eventual champion Letran in their stepladder semifinal duel.
The country’s oldest collegiate league plodded on with its new season with online events, with the basketball and volleyball tournaments getting cancelled.
Among the options the NCAA considered was holding its season in a bubble at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna
