The Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates avenged its come-from-behind loss to the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas, taking a 65-61 win Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The loss dropped Perpetual to solo third with an 11-5 slate with the San Beda Red Lions a full game ahead of them.
Cagayan de Oro-native Reymar Caduyac led the Pirates with 15 points, scoring nine points in the final frame. Mike Nzeusseu added a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Even if the Pirates have long been eliminated from Final Four contention, head coach Topex Robinson shared that Season 93 has already started for them.
“Actually it’s the start of the next season for us already,” Robinson shared. “Pretty much the reason why the games still have bearing for us is that we’re preparing for next season.”
With the game knotted at 43-all entering the final frame, Joseph Gabayni sparked a 9-0 Lyceum blast that gave the Pirates its biggest lead of the game 52-43 three minutes minutes into the quarter.
The Altas were able to make a counter run, slicing the lead to just three, 52-49. However, the Perpetual backcourt played lackadaisical perimeter defense as they left Caduyac wide-open. Caduyac took advantage of this, knocking down two triples to give Lyceum a 58-51 lead.
Nigerian big man Bright Akhuetie, just like in their first round encounter, willed the Altas back while Keith Pido was able to score on a miracle three-point play with 1:16 left to tie the game at 61-all.
After a Caduyac split on the stripe, the Altas had the chance to gain the lead but costly turnovers by Akhuetie and, later on, Pido with 19 seconds remaining continued Perpetual’s struggles in the game.
Compounding Perpetual’s problem was that the Las Pinas-based squad wasted time before getting to foul Nzeusseu that stopped the clock at 1.4 seconds. After the Cameroonian converted on both charities, Perpetual still had a chance to send the game into overtime but Akhuetie’s three went way over board.
“No wasted games, we still have one and it’s gonna prepare us for a championship in the future,” Robinson beamed.
The Altas struggled from the field, shooting just 34 percent. Moreover, the now-third ranked team committed 19 turnovers.
Akuetie paced the Altas with 21 markers and 12 rebounds but was just 8-of-20 from the field. Gab Dagangon added 11 markers.
The Lyceum Pirates (7th, 6-11) end their Season 92 campaign on Friday, September 23 against the Benilde Blazers. On the other hand, it only gets tougher for the Perpetual Altas (3rd, 11-5) facing the San Beda College Red Lions (2nd, 12-4) on Tuesday, September 20 at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
LPU (65) – Caduyac 15, Nzeusseu 11, Alban 8, Bulawan 6, Alanes 6, Gabayni 6, Rubite 5, Ayaay 2, Marata 2, Serafico 2, Malabanan 1, Baltazar 0, Soliman 0.
UPHSD (61) – Akhuetie 21, Dagangon 11, Coronel 8, Ylagan 6, Singontiko 5, Pido 5, Sadiwa 3, Gallardo 2, Eze 0, Dizon 0.
Quarterscores: 12-17, 27-24, 43-43, 64-61.
