IF there are any questions on how far Frankie Lim can take this Perpetual squad, these were certainly answered on Friday.
His Altas became the first squad in two years to beat the fancied Lyceum in the NCAA elimination round, snapping the mighty Pirates’ 30-game winning run.
The four-time NCAA champion coach said he knew after the first round that they have what it takes to beat this squad, and this time around, his wards executed the gameplan to perfection.
“Before the game I was telling my players, I did not see anything wrong with our game the first time we met this team. But we had big mistakes on defense and that was the flaw and that was the reason why we lost our first game,” said Lim.
“So medyo nag-adjust-adjust, nag-correct kami ng mistakes namin and made us successful. Naka-chamba,” Lim said.
That ‘chamba’ definitely meant a lot for the Altas as they’ve finally taken out a big fish, boosting their chase for a Final Four spot this season.
The win pushed the Altas to 7-5 and put the pressure on St. Benilde (8-5) and Letran (8-4) in what is shaping up as a fierce battle for the last two spots in the Final Four.
The two teams that the Altas are chasing will still be facing Lyceum in this round.
“Malaking bagay yung victory because we have now LPU helping us, beating the other teams para mailubog,” Lim said.
“But just the same, we have to beat the teams that we’re supposed to beat. We’re playing JRU, Mapua our next two games. Kailangan talunin namin yun kasi pag natalo kami sa isa eh baliwala din ito,” Lim added.
Aside from the boost in the team, Lim also gets a little bit of personal incentive as the win meant that his record of a full-season sweep remains.
Lim led the San Beda Red Lions to an immaculate season back in 2010 where they finished 18-0 after sweeping the 16-game elimination round and the Finals.
“It’s always nice to beat the strongest team in the league, and isa pa pala, di wala na silang sweep?” Lim said. “Hindi ba napakasarap? Pwede na sila dumiretso kasi walang sweep. Akin lang yung sweep.”
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