Whether up with a small lead or down big, Lyceum of the Philippines University had always found ways to win no matter what.
The Pirates found themselves staring at a 24-point deficit once against Arellano University but even with a disadvantage like that, the wards of head coach Gilbert Malabanan were unfazed.
They had to work doubly hard in the second half and force an overtime before escaping the Chiefs with an 89-77 triumph.
Malabanan said games like this show what they're really made up of.
"I think it boils down doon sa character ng team," the LPU coach said.
"We didn't give up until the final buzzer and that's the good thing. Nakita n'yo 'yung mga players ko, they never gave up. Even though is Umali is gone, nag-step up 'yung ibang players."
(I think it boils down in the team's character. We didn't give up until the final buzzer and that's the good thing. You saw my players, they never gave up. Even though that is Umali is gone, the players stepped up.)
Team captain and veteran guard Enoch Valdez echoed Malabanan's sentiments, saying their come-from-behind win was a testament of who they are as a unit.
"Talagang sinabi ko sa kanila na hindi kami pwedeng sumuko, ilalaban namin hanggang dulo. May tiwala naman ako sa bawat isa. Good thing na lahat kami [in] one page kaya nakuha namin 'yung panalo," the graduating skipper said.
"Siyempre nasa taas kami, nagpapapanalo kami and kanina we're down talaga and sabi ni Mclaude sa amin, diyan mate-test kung sino talaga 'yung team natin."
"Hindi pwedeng kung nagpapapanalo, doon lang kami okay, what if down kami ng gano'n."
(I told them that we could not give up. We will fight until the end. I trust all of them. It's a good thing we are in the same page that's why we won. Of course we're on top, we were winning and then we were down, but Mclaude said, this is where we will be tested, not when we are winning.)
Valdez had his best game so far into the season, dropping a double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds alongside four steals and one block to help the Pirates erase a huge deficit en route to the win.
With the win, Lyceum has now improved to 5-0 and remain as the only unbeaten team in the league.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
