JASPER Ayaay’s putback with 7.4 seconds left and Jaycee Marcelino’s free throw nearly two seconds later steered Lyceum to its 12th straight win, a 94-92 win over Arellano University Friday in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
Ayaay led the Pirates with 20 points, including a follow-up off his own miss giving Lyceum a 93-91 lead.
The Chiefs were still alive at 92-93 after Kent Salado’s freebie with 6.5 seconds left, before Marcelino gave the Pirates a safer lead of 94-92, with 4.6 seconds left off Salado’s foul.
This proved enough for the Pirates to remain unbeaten after 12 games as they zeroed in on the first slot in the Final Four. The win also kept them on track for an outright finals berth if they go on to sweep the double-round elimination.
“Kalma lang ako. Kailangan talagang mai-shoot ito kasi kailangan talagang manalo. Huminga lang ako nang malalim para mawala lahat ng bigat,” said the 19-year-old Marcelino, who is older than his twin Jayvee by three minutes. He finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
The Chiefs, with Salado firing a game-high 24 points, were in charge for most of the afternoon after they moved away in the third period at 60-50 behind two triples from Levi de la Cruz and Zach Nichols. They later grabbed a 13-point spread, 87-74, off Salado’s three-pointer.
It took a scorching 14-0 run in the final period to get the Pirates back into the lead at 88-87 in the last 2:22 of the fourth.
Meanwhile, Edward Dixon eked out 27 points for the College of St. Benilde Blazers as they downed the Perpetual Help Altas, 83-65.
In the junior division, Joshua Marcos knocked in 22 points as La Salle Greenhills smashed the Perpertual Help Junior Altas, 82-69, to join the Malayan Red Robins in the lead with their 10-2 card.
Mclaude Guadana fired 19 points in the Lyceum Junior Pirates’ 89-82 edging of the Arellano Braves for their fifth triumph in 12 matches.
Games Tuesday
(The Arena in San Juan)
12 nn EAC vs JRU (jrs)
2 p.m. EAC vs JRU (srs)
4 p.m. Arellano vs Letran (srs)
6 p.m. Arellano vs Letran (jrs)