THE odds were against the Lyceum Pirates, but they still found a way to turn the tables on the Letran Knights, 75-68, and claim their eighth straight triumph yesterday in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
Trailing by as much as 17 points, they leaned on a 13-4 blast in the last period to wrest the upper hand midway in the last period, and thus earn the solo lead when the smoke of battle cleared.
“We talked about composure just like the last game. I gave them reminders. They are going to make a run, the calls will not be in our favour. I just showed them situations. I’m proud of these guys. Hindi sila sumuko, It was really a good test for us,” said the Pirates assistant coach Jeff Perlas.
CJ Perez hit 14 points for the Pirates, while Jaycee Marcelino and Mike Nzeusseu added 13 apiece.
It was attacks from Nzeusseu and Reymar Caduyac in the last 4:40 that allowed the Pirates to finally grab the upperhand after training 53-59, at the end of the third.
Nzeusseu’s driving layup following Perez’s miss handed the Pirates a 66-64 lead.
From there, the Pirates kept the Knights scoreless, and they went on to stay in front, 70-64.
The Knights, playing without injured forward Jeo Ambohot, had Rey Nambatac making 16 points, dropped to third at 5-4. Ambohot suffered a season-ending right wrist injury against the San Sebastian.
Meanwhile, Ryan Costelo banged in 10 of 11 points in the fourth period and then made crucial stops that helped the San Sebastian Stags escape with a 75-73 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College.
His defensive moves at the buzzer came right after Allyn Bulanadi scored a split charity that kept them ahead by two in the dying seconds.
“At least maganda game ni Ryan ng games namin ay close,” said Stags coach Egay Macaraya.
In junior action, Fil Singaporean Laksman Ganapathy kept the Lyceum Junior Pirates from pulling off a big scoring run in the last two minutes, and his efforts helped power the Letran Squires to a 93-85 victory,
Enoch Valdez and Kobe Monje showed the way with 30 and 20 points for the Squires as they went on to claim their fifth triumph in nine matches, and move into fourth.
Neil Villapando tallied 20 points for the San Sebastian Staglets in their 97-77 smashing of the EAC Brigadiers.
The scores:
First Game
San Sebastian 75—Calisaan 19, Ilagan 12, Costelo 11, Calma 10, Gayosa 5, Navarro 5, Are 4, David 2, Baetiong 2, Mercado 2, Valdez 2, Bulanadi 1, Quipse 0, Capobres 0
EAC 73—Onwubere 22, Munsayac 16, Guzman 10, Garcia 7, Mendoza I 6, Diego 4, Bugarin 4, Bautista 3, Pascua 1, Mendoza J 0, Corilla 0, Neri 0
Quarter scores: 17-16, 40-37, 50-53, 75-73
Second Game
LPU 75—Perez 14, Nzeusseu 13, Marcelino JC 13, Caduyac 12, Ayaay 7, Baltazar 5, Marcelino JV 4, Ibanez 4, Tansingco 2, Pretta 1, Marata 0
Letran 68—Nambatac 16, Calvo 11, Quinto 10, Balanza 8, Balagasay 6, Mandreza 6, Taladua 5, Caralipio 4, Pascual 2, Gedaria 0, Vacaro 0, Bernabe 0
Quarter scores: 18-26, 35-44, 53-59, 75-68.