Breaking
down the numbers, take a look at how LPU's Basketball team evolved from
underdog to "team-to-beat"
 |
| Photos courtesy of Jessie Guilas, Jaycee Alvarino, and Leander Gaffud of The LPU Independent Sentinel |
Now four
games into Season 93, the Lyceum of the Philippines University is the team to
beat with a 4-0 win-loss record. They toppled the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers,
the San Beda Red Lions, the San Sebastian Golden Stags,
and the Arellano Chiefs.
Looking
back at Seasons 91 and 92, three of those teams played in the Final Four. The
San Beda Red Lions were champions in both seasons.
But three
weeks ago, they fell off their winning streak and lost 96-91 in favor of the
Pirates.
How did
the LPU Pirates, ranked 9th for the past two seasons, manage to start with a
clean slate and an unbeaten record?
Top
scorers outshine senior Pirate
Ever
since CJ Perez stepped in, the Pirates had their confidence back.
 |
| (L-R) Nzeusseu, Ayaay, Baltazar, Perez, and Caduyac. Photo by Leander Gaffud |
The
newly-minted Pirate has consistently been the leading scorer of the team, with
a total of 82 points in the past four matches. (22-24-20-16)
Perez was
a former Stag and briefly
played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, but
had to leave due to academic deficiencies.
(READ: Seven Blue Eagles face uncertain
UAAP future due to academics)
Same goes
for the Marcelino twins JV and
JC who contributed a combined total of 68 points. Both caused confusion in the court
and has become a valuable asset for the Pirates.
Jaycee
Carlos Marcelino earned 38 points in the last four rounds (4-14-7-13) and his
brother Jayvee Carlos contributed 30 points (9-7-6-8).
On the
other hand, one of the former key players of the Pirates struggle to keep up.
Wilson
Baltazar, who garnered 33 points and 50 points in the first four matches of
Season 91 and 92 respectively, has dropped his record to only 25 points
(7-9-7-2) without reaching double digits. Mike Nzeusseu remained a consistent
star player by bringing in 49 points (13-18-10-8) and is currently the second
top scorer of the LPU Pirates.
His
previous record for the first four matches last season was also second to
Baltazar's, bringing in 72 points (14-18-16-24) for the team.
Jesper
Ayaay has also gotten much better as he contributed 45 points (11-4-17-13)
compared to last year's 33 points (2-12-15-4).
Their
stellar performance in pre-season tournaments also added to the hype, with the
LPU Pirates winning the Milcu Got Skills tournament
and placing third in the FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier
Cup. Baltazar even earned double digits in a tight game against the
De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, ending with 100-99 in favor of the
Green Archers. (READ: LPU loses by 1 point in knife-edged
semi-finals vs DLSU)
Points
Ahead
There is
a pattern that answers the mystery behind the Pirates' victories: they are not
playing catch-up.
 |
| SECOND GAME Pirates clash against the San Beda Red Lions. Photo by Jaycee Alvarino |
Unlike
before, the team is not too far behind nor have they battled head-to-head with
their opponents. Their match against the Red Lions is the only exception.
In their
first match against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals last season,
the first half of the game placed them on a difficult 10-point deficit.
The
biggest lead they had to endure in the first four matches last season was
against the Mapua Cardinals who pushed the Pirates back with a 16-point deficit
in the third quarter.
Perhaps
their most notable fight was going up against the Jose Rizal University (JRU)
Heavy Bombers, where the Pirates took the lead in the second and third quarter
with only a 2-point deficit.
After
their heated head-to-head battle against the Bombers, the Pirates earned their
first win in Season 92.
This time
however, the four teams they have faced had to play catch up with them.
The Heavy
Bombers struggled in the second half of the game with a 14 to 21-point deficit.
The Golden Stags was not so far behind with only a single digit deficit , and
the Arellano Chiefs lagged in the fourth quarter with a 34-point deficit.
Only the
San Beda Red Lions managed to go forward with a 2-point lead, but Perez and
Caduyac stole it from them in the game's final minutes and triumphed.
One
question remains: can they play consistently enough to reach the Final Four?
©The Pink Merman
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