Lim ecstatic of Altas’ sinking of Pirates
Veteran coach Frankie Lim was all praises for his University of Perpetual Help System DALTA team after they pulled off the biggest upset so far in Season 94 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors basketball.
Prince Eze pulled off a buzzer-beating putback off Tonton Peralta’s miss as the Altas dealt leading team Lyceum of the Philippines University its first elimination round loss in nearly two years, 81-83, on Friday night at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
“We can say that again. What a win. Right now, it’s like this: To hold LPU—a very, very strong team—to hold them to 13 points in the last quarter, it’s just something else,” said Lim.
“I just have to give it to my guys. They really delivered. And I told them during the pre-game (talk), I want to see you on attack mode. And that’s what exactly happened,” he added.
The multi-titled coach drew another monster performance from the 6-foot-9 Nigerian center Eze, who finished with stats worthy of an MVP—25 points, 23 rebounds, two blocks plus the game-winner that snapped Lyceum’s 30-game winning streak in the elimination round.
“It’s possible! We can do it!” Eze shouted as he entered the media room for the post-match presser, referring to Perpetual Help’s chances of entering the Final Four.
Lim also commended Edgar Charcos, AJ Coronel, Rommel Mangalino and the returning Kyt Jimenez for their stellar efforts that helped the Las Piñas-based squad erase a nine-point deficit with four minutes left in the payoff period.
Lim was glad as well to deny the Pirates a season sweep, which he achieved when he guided San Beda to an 18-game undefeated season back in 2010.
“It’s always nice to beat the strongest team in the league. And one more, there will be no sweep, right? Isn’t it sweet? The sweep only belongs to me,” he said.
With the win, the fifth-running Altas improved to 7-5, keeping them within striking distance from No. 3 Colegio de San Juan de Letran (8-4) and No. 4 College of St. Benilde (8-5) in the Final Four race.
Lim though knows that there’s so much work ahead after the euphoria.
“Actually, the win is big because we now have LPU helping us beating the other teams to sink,” he said.
“But, just the same, we have to beat the teams we’re supposed to beat. We’re playing JRU and Mapua the next two games. We need to beat them because if we lose to one of them, this is nothing,” he added.
Lyceum head coach Topex Robinson, on the other side, offered no excuses after the Pirates absorbed their first defeat in the eliminations since their setback to St. Benilde in September 23, 2016.
“Perpetual was the better team and coach Frankie really did a tremendous job in building that program,” said Robinson, who towed Lyceum to an 18-game elims sweep last year.
“Just like what I told them earlier, the sun will shine tomorrow so we have to focus on the next few games and just move forward. Again, I have to do a better job coaching. That’s the lesson for us,” he added.
Robinson prefers to look at the brighter side of things.
“I’d rather learn the lessons of losing early than learn it later. Good thing it happened now.”
The post Lim ecstatic of Altas’ sinking of Pirates appeared first on The Manila Times Online.