NCAA: Perpetual coach Lim hails 'MVP' Eze after another superb outing

MANILA, Philippines -- University of Perpetual Help coach Frankie Lim touted the MVP credentials of big man Prince Eze on Thursday, after the Altas leaned on their star center to pull off an 85-77 overtime triumph over the San Sebastian College Golden Stags.

As he has been all throughout Season 94, Eze was a tireless worker for the Altas. He played all 45 minutes of the game, and tallied 25 points, 23 rebounds, and four blocks in the contest. He made 8 of his 12 shots from the field, and was 9-of-11 at the line.

“He raised again his MVP numbers,” Lim said of Eze. “And, you know, he's our MVP in our team, very important player in our system.”

“I'm just happy, we are very glad for him that he's responding very well to the minutes given to him,” the coach added. “Everybody in our team knows that we live and die with Prince.”

• READ: Tireless Prince Eze lifts Perpetual to another win in NCAA 94

The big man entered Thursday’s game averaging 18.8 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per contest in spearheading the Altas’ Final 4 drive.

But Eze, who credited their steady free throw shooting as the key to their win, has a high standard to live up to as Lim’s foreign student-athlete.

As San Beda University’s coach in the early 2000s, Lim guided the careers of Sam Ekwe and Sudan Daniel, two of the most dominant big men in recent NCAA history. Both centers also helped the Red Lions win championships.

Lim was reluctant to compare Eze to his former players, only stressing that he always seeks to maximize them.

“You know, I just try to maximize our foreign players. Even when I was in San Beda. I handled Ekwe, we maximized him,” said Lim. “He wants to take his shots outside, we practiced his shots outside. And same thing with Sudan Daniel.”

For Lim, it boils down to hard work in practice -- which Eze has consistently done.

“If you want to do stuff in the game, you just have to consistently practice. You want to take your shots outside, practice your shots outside. You want to make your post moves, work on your post moves. That's the only way to get better,” he said.

“Again, given the minutes I'm giving him, he's responding very well,” he added.

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