MANILA, Philippines – Their NCAA Season 93 campaign did not end the way they envisioned, but the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates remain proud of how they performed in the men's basketball tournament.

An 18-0 elimination round campaign ended in disappointment for the Pirates, who were swept by defending champion San Beda College in the best-of-three finals.

Yet the Pirates walked out of Araneta Coliseum on Thursday with their heads held high, knowing that they gave their school their best finish in the NCAA since joining the league in 2011.

"It's a good experience pa rin," said season MVP CJ Perez, who had 22 points in a losing effort in Game 2. "Hindi kami mage-excuse na first time namin. Pero at least, binigay namin 'yung best namin sa game na 'to."

"Madami pa. Hindi pa naman nagtatapos dito ang basketball," he added.

• (READ: Bolick, San Beda sweep LPU for back-to-back championships)

The Pirates do admit that experience – or lack thereof – played a factor in the finals. All of the Lyceum players were playing in the NCAA finals for the very first time in their careers, while the Red Lions were all armed with plenty of championship experience.

That discrepancy in experience showed itself in crunch time. The Red Lions were calm and composed, and leaned on Robert Bolick as their closer. The Pirates, in contrast, ran out of gas. Perez played a superb game for three quarters but was held scoreless in the payoff period, and committed a turnover that essentially wrapped up the game for San Beda with 30 seconds left.

"Siguro, 'yung pagkukulang namin 'yung experience namin, kasi first time," admitted team captain MJ Ayaay. "Medyo iba talaga."

"Siguro, mas composed sila pag-end game," Perez acknowledged.

Yet both Lyceum players insist that they had no regrets about the finals, and that the loss will not deal a blow to the bond that they had developed over the course of the season.

"Hindi porke natalo kami, magugunaw na sa amin 'yung mundo. Ako iniisip ko, ang sinasabi ko sa kanila, kahit anong mangyari, magkakapatid kami. Kahit manalo matalo dito sa championship, buo parin kami, magkakapatid parin kami," said Ayaay.

"Brother’s keepers pa rin," he stressed.

"Binigay namin 'yung best namin," Perez said, for his part. "Wala kaming pinagsisisihan."

Moreover, they believe that the experience will be a huge boost for Lyceum in Season 94, when they try to again claim a title after falling short this year.

"Magandang experience ito para sa amin," said Perez.

"We're not going to promise anything," he added. "Siyempre, lalaruin namin basketball namin. Pagtapos nito, kinabukasan, 'yun na ang start ng Season 94 sa amin."

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