De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu didn't hide his disappointment after the Blazers, who were seen as one of the favorites in the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament, blew an early lead against Lyceum of the Philippines University en route to an 85-81 loss on Sunday.
Benilde was very much in control in the first half, even holding the Pirates down to just one make out of their 13 attempts from downtown as the Blazers took a 45-37 lead at the turn.
However, Lyceum restored order for their end in the second half, outscoring the Blazers, 25 to 12, in the third frame for a 62-57 cushion.
Although Benilde rallied in the fourth behind crucial baskets from team captain Robi Nayve, they still fell short as Lyceum picked up the victory.
Tiu said he knew something like this was bound to happen given their performances in their games during the offseason.
"It's something that I've been worried about even in the preseason. I feel these guys think they're somebody right now but we're not. I really think we're overrated," Tiu said.
"I felt we're just not that good and then we take things for granted, we don't put in the work and we don't respect the game or play the way we should be playing. This is what happens."
Tiu would not use the absence of Will Gozum as an excuse for the loss as the reigning NCAA MVP sat out the game due to a one-game suspension he incurred last season.
"Will is a big part of our team but I personally felt that even without him, we should have been able to win this game but that's not how it went," he added.
"Hopefully, having him back for the next few games would be good for us."
But while his team endured a stinging loss to open NCAA Season 99, Tiu said Lyceum was just simply the better team, highlighting the fact that the Pirates outplayed them in the endgame.
JM Bravo was the man for Lyceum as the third-year cager put together 18 points on 70-percent shooting from the field alongside eight rebounds and one steal.
"I give credit to Lyceum, they really outplayed us today and they worked hard and for us, we couldn't hit [our] shots so we collapsed," he said.
"They deserve to win."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
