After having rested for a week and skipped at least one game because of the bad weather, the Lyceum Pirates are expected to be in top form once again.
And Cameroonian big man Mike Nzeusseu is also expected to be in good shape when the Pirates clash with the University of Perpetual Help Altas at 4 p.m. today before a hostile crowd in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Altas’ own home court in Las Pinas.
Earlier, the Junior Pirates (3-2) and the Junior Altas (3-3) will collide at 2 p.m.
The Pirates were not able to play the Arellano University Chiefs last Friday after their game was called off because of heavy rains throughout Metro Manila.
And this is expected to help the Pirates to improve on their fighting shape, now that Nzeusseu has returned to them after recovering from a fractured finger.
Nzeusseu was around, and played a few minutes when the Pirates smothered the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 95-77, the other week.
“We took a gamble on him. We gave him the decision if he wanted to play or not. Sabi niya, ‘If I’m gonna rest now, wala na ako next year’. He wanted to make every game count,” said Pirates coach Topex Robinson.
The Pirates’ third straight win, put them up at 4-1, and they are now behind the Letran Knights (5-1) in the team standings.
In that game, Nzeusseu managed to finish with 13 points and eight rebounds in just 16 minutes of game time for Lyceum.
On the other hand, the Altas (2-3), will seek to improve their record since their 75-73 edging of the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, San Sebastian Stags coach Egay Macaraya will sit away from the bench in the next game of the San Sebastian Stags.
Macaraya shall serve his suspension, according to league basketball commissioner Tonichi Pujante.
The Golden Stags’ head coach was handed a one-game suspension for an unsportsmanlike conduct during one of their timeouts in their matchup opposite Lyceum two weeks ago.
Macaraya, who will be punished for ordering a player to slap the injured hand of Nzeusseu in the closing minutes of their Pirates’ game with the Stags, will miss out the Stags’ game with Emilio Aguinaldo College on Friday, and he has been asked to make a public apology as well as commit to community service.
Also suspended is Red Cub Rhayyan Amsali, who will be out for a game following San Beda’s showdown withLa Salle Green Hills.
Amsali reportedly elbowed Lennox Valenzuela late in the fourth quarter, and no whistle was blown.
Based on replay reviews after the game, however, the NCAA determined that Amsali should have been called for a foul.
