Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas pulled off what others could not, handing formerly undefeated Centro Escolar University a 79-76 loss in the second phase of the eliminations of the PGFlex-UCAL Season 8 Basketball Tournament on Thursday at Paco Arena in Manila.
Foreign-student athlete Alpha Bah led LPU-B to its sixth win in 10 games, scoring a game-high 18 points, including nine crucial markers in the payoff period.
His performance helped the Pirates hold their ground in a wild finish, handing the Scorpions their first defeat in 10 outings.
Bah’s impact extended beyond scoring. The 6-foot-6 Senegalese forward pressured fellow FSA Precious Momowei early, while AJ Lacusong and Kyle Andrei Mitra contributed offensively, helping LPU-B roar to a commanding 57-34 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Scorpions, however, refused to fold, chipping away at LPU-B’s lead until Mark Jade Sarza’s tough basket put CEU ahead 71-70, sparking a wild celebration on their bench.
The jubilation was short-lived, though, as Bah drilled his second and final three-pointer to swing momentum back to the Pirates and end CEU’s comeback.
Despite the loss, CEU has already secured a Final Four semis berth, including a twice-to-beat advantage, even if they fall to defending champion Olivarez College (8-2) next Thursday.
Elsewhere, JM Garces hit a clutch three-pointer with four seconds remaining to lift Diliman College to a 79-78 victory over Manila Central University, while Immaculada Concepcion College edged Philippine Women’s University, 72-69.
With these wins, Diliman and ICC officially punched their tickets to the quarterfinals with identical 6-5 records.
Meanwhile, MCU joins PWU and University of Batangas for an early offseason as the Supremos fell to 3-7.
