Published October 20, 2025 8:05pm
Updated October 20, 2025 8:05pm
NCAA Season 101. LPU Pirates vs. Letran Knights, October 18, 2025. Photo: Thomas Villanueva
Lyceum of the Philippines University is steering through rough waters amid a 0-5 start in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament, with the Pirates now looking to right the ship while there’s still time.
LPU head coach Gilbert Malabanan stressed they just need that one breakthrough to finally get things going this season, something the Pirates hope to find on Tuesday against a dangerous Jose Rizal University team.
“Of course, [optimistic pa rin ang team]. Ako as head coach, hindi ko pinapa-feel sa kanila na down na down kasi ‘pag ‘yung head nakita nilang down madadamay na rin sila,” Malabanan said on Saturday.
“Basta ako, I’m always positive na makukuha rin namin ‘yung first win namin this season.”
(Of course. Me as a head coach, I never let my players feel that I’m down because when they see the head down, it will spread to them… For me, I’m always positive we’ll get our first win of this season.)
LPU has been a staple in the Final Four for the last three editions.
In Season 98, the Pirates finished third before bowing to eventual three-peat champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the semifinals. LPU then stepped it up the following year, finishing second to earn a twice-to-beat advantage, only to fall to eventual champion San Beda University in their semis duel.
Last year, LPU actually had a similar bad start after dropping four of their first seven games. They then went on to win seven of their next 11 matches to return to the Final Four, but would again fall to Mapua University in the semis as the Cardinals likewise captured the title.
This season, though, that first win has proven elusive for the Pirates, who have dropped their first five games, three of which went the distance, including double-overtime losses to Mapua and San Sebastian and an overtime defeat to Letran.
And while these losses continue to pile up for LPU, Malabanan said these just show the fight in his team.
“Actually ayon ‘yung hinahanap ko talaga sa team ko e, sa players ko, na even though the opponents are leading us, kahit double digit pa ‘yan, I’m just gonna push them to the limit,” he added.
“‘Yun lang naman ang magagawa ko para sa kanila. I don’t want to see them na mag-give up sila. As long as wala pang final buzzer, we don’t give up.”
(Actually, that’s what I’m looking for in the team, in my players, even though the opponents are leading us, even by double digits, I’m just gonna push them to the limit… That’s all I can do for them. I don’t want to see them give up. As long as the final buzzer has not sounded, we don’t give up.)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
#NCAA #Consistent #Final #team #LPU #Pirates #refusing #sink #start #Season
