GENEROSO Cecilio Jr. drilled in 31 points for the Lyceum Junior Pirates, who upset the Arellano University Braves, 77-66, and joined the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs and the La Salle Greenhills Greenies in posting big wins Monday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association junior basketball tournament.
The Junior Pirates, who bounced back from a 76-78 loss to the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers last Thursday, claimed their first win over the Braves and kept their fading Final Four semifinals chances alive at The Arena in San Juan.
They went on to post their seventh win in 14 matches, while the loss dropped the Braves out of their share of the lead with the Red Cubs, who fought off the Mapua Red Robins in the final three minutes, 89-84, with Robi Nayve leading with 14 points.
This allowed the Red Cubs to move ahead in the solo lead with their 13-1 win-loss slate, with the Braves behind at 13-1.
The Red Robins fell to a share of third at 11-3 with the La Salle Greenhills-Greenies.
The Greenies, who drew 25 points and 11 rebounds from Troy Mallinlin, pummeled the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 72-51.