BY ABBY TORALBA
LYCEUM forward Enoch Valdez is raring to exit in a blaze of glory and victory.
Valdez said bringing the Pirates back to the Final Four and eventually bagging the title in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament are his goals in his swan song.
“Para sa akin talaga siyempre ang goal ko talaga mag-Final Four kasi magpapa-draft na ako after this season,” Valdez told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Kailangan mag-Final Four talaga para mas maganda iyong (exit) ko bago magpa-draft,” he added.
Lyceum last reached the Big Dance in 2018 behind now PBA star CJ Perez of San Miguel, with Valdez suiting up as a rookie.
In the Pirates’ match against reigning two-time champion Letran last Sunday, Perez showed up at The Arena in San Juan and Lyceum stunned the Knights 82-75.
Although the 6-foot-3 forward admitted there is pressure whenever Perez is watching, especially because some are drawing comparisons between them, Valdez said he is taking inspiration from the former NCAA MVP.
“Tuwing nanonood si kuya CJ siyempre nai-inspire ako kasi parang tinitingnan niya iyong bawat galaw ko, parang every (mali) kino-correct niya,” Valdez said. “So, parang medyo pressure din talaga kapag nanonood siya. Pero syempre nai-inspire din ako kasi nandoon siya nag-gu-guide sa akin.”
This batch of Pirates under second-year coach Gilbert Malabanan has what it takes, according to Valdez.
