The Zark’s Burger-Lyceum Jawbreakers made it three wins in a row as they scored a come-from-behind, 83-76 victory over the Akari-Adamson Soaring Falcons, Tuesday evening at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
CJ Perez survived his poor 6-of-18 clip and saved his lone three-pointer for the final 59.5 seconds, which put the Jawbreakers up, 81-76, and secured the victory for his side.
The energetic Perez delivered 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in the win.
Jaycee Marcelino also exacted revenge against his former school, going for 19 points, six coming in the last five minutes, while also collecting two boards and two steals.
Ralph Tansingco got 17 in the tight win, which saw 39 lead changes and 14 deadlocks.
“I just challenged them,” said coach Topex Robinson of his wards. “I have to back off sometimes and trust them that they will do the right thing.”
Perez and Marcelino ignited an 11-2 rally to turn a 62-69 deficit in the last 7:23, to a 73-71 edge with 4:20 remaining.
Jerrick Ahanmisi still tried to resuscitate the Falcons with a trey to cut the Jawbreakers’ lead down to two, 78-76, at the 2:17 mark of the payoff period, but failed to find the bottom of the net for the remainder of the game, as Zark’s-Lyceum held on to the win.
Cameroonian center Papi Sarr anchored the Falcons in their first loss with 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Ahanmisi shot 3-of-9 from downtown and contributed 15 markers, eight boards, and four dimes in the loss.
Zark’s-Lyceum will next face neighbors Wang’s-Letran on Monday, February 5. Akari-Adamson take on Go for Gold the next day.
The Scores:
Zarks-Lyceum 83 — Perez 20, Jc. Marcelino 19, Tansingco 17, Ayaay 8, Nzeusseu 6, Jv. Marcelino 5, Baltazar 2, Caduyac 2, Ibañez 2, Serrano 2, Cinco 0, Marata 0, Santos 0.
Akari-Adamson 76 — Sarr 17, Ahanmisi 15, Espeleta 11, Manganti 9, Mojica 8, Lojera 7, Hill 3, Macion 3, Lastimosa 2, Longalong 1, Bernardo 0, Buenaventura 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 26-27, 46-45, 58-61, 83-76.
