By ANGELO JACINTO
LYCEUM’s battle plan is clear as day: Stop San Beda from the three-point arc. The problem is how.
“Sila yung number one sa three points e and di namin macover-cover talaga, kailangan talaga paghirapan namin. Mag-oovertime siguro ang mga coaches para trabahuhin (ang game plan),” said Enoch Valdez after watching his team get buried by San Beda’s treys on Tuesday.
READ San Beda coach the least surprised to see Cortez run riot in Game One
With their backs against the wall, the Red Lions made 13 of 28 three-point attempts on their way to an 89-68 win in the NCAA Season 99 semifinals, forcing a do-or-die game on Friday.
“Kitang-kita naman talaga yung three points nila sobrang dami, kailangan talaga namin trabahuhin. Yun ang winork namin sa practice namin kaso di talaga namin makita kung nakita nakaka-shoot parin sila sa three points,” said Valdez who finished with 14 points and nine boards.
The 18th overall pick in this year’s PBA draft could only shake his head in disbelief as Jacob Cortez torched them for 28 points on just 11 field goal attempts from the field.
What was so frustrating for Valdez was the fact that their defense revolved around stopping Cortez.
“Siya yung iniiscout namin, di ko talaga alam kung ano nangyari. Yun pala naka-score na siya ng 28, di talaga kami mananalo kasi siya dapat ang i-stop namin.”
Facing a team that has beaten them twice with an average of 18.5 points, the Pirates need to find a way to regain their bearings.
“Siguro kailangan lang mag-regroup ulit. Kanina lumabas na naman yung [tendency] na nagkakanya-kanya na naman, yung mga forced shots, meron din ako sobrang dami ko ring forced shots, nangigigil kasi sobrang natambakan kami,” Valdez said.
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