THE Lyceum Pirates have their work cut out for them in the Final Four of the 100th NCAA basketball tournament but coach Gilbert Malabanan is unfazed.
“We have to work harder to beat kung sino man iyong makaharap namin. Honestly, ever since naman, iyong team namin is unpredictable, di ba? Kung mapapansin mo, paiba-iba kami dati ng mga best player,” Malabanan said.
“Paiba-iba kami ng kung sino iyong nagbe-best player sa amin. Kaya ang hirap rin iyong i-scout kung sino iyong main man ng Lyceum,” he added.
Lyceum finished the eliminations as the fourth-ranked team with a 10-8 card and will collide with top seed and twice-to-beat Mapua University on Saturday, Nov. 23, in the semifinals at The Astrodome in Pasay.
No. 2 College of St. Benilde, also armed with a win-once incentive, will face defending champion and third seed San Beda University in the other Last Four clash.
The Pirates will pin their hopes on John Barba, Renz Villegas, JM Bravo, Vincent Cunanan.
Ranged against a potent foe, Malabanan is banking on his troops’ teamwork to propel them to a sudden death for a place in the Big Dance.
“I give credit to them na talagang we share the ball. Nahahanap talaga nila iyong mga libre and you know confident naman sila every time they took the shot,” he said.
