By: Joaquin Cortez
With their season hanging in the balance, Lyceum-Cavite finally captured its first win in the NCAA Season 102 Juniors Basketball Tournament, leaning on Lamarcus Pelayo’s hot shooting in the fourth quarter to survive San Beda-Rizal, 68-67, and force a do-or-die clash on Thursday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
Later in the day, Arellano University punched its ticket to the quarterfinals after surviving a late fourth-quarter scare from San Sebastian, 82-77, behind Laurence Pillas’ 20-point, five-rebound, and seven-assist performance.
After dropping all 13 of its elimination-round games, the Junior Pirates secured their breakthrough victory when it mattered most. Pelayo spearheaded the comeback, scoring all nine of his points in the final period and knocking down three triples to keep Lyceum’s campaign alive and force a winner-take-all encounter.
Lyceum’s last taste of victory came against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the final game of the third round on Nov. 22, 2025, before the Junior Pirates bowed to San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the play-in round.
Meanwhile, San Beda failed to replicate its late-season resurgence, surrendering its advantage in the closing minutes. The two sides are now set to meet again on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:00 a.m. at the same venue.
The winner of the do-or-die match will face Perpetual in the quarterfinals, with the latter holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
Following a low-scoring third quarter in which both teams combined for just 15 points, the Red Cubs managed to create some separation, with Edlex Buenaventura helping establish a three-point cushion, 56-53.
Then came Pelayo.
The Lyceum guard spearheaded the Junior Pirates’ fourth-quarter comeback, scoring six of the team’s next eight points, including back-to-back triples that erased San Beda’s lead and handed his side a 59-56 advantage.
Pelayo stayed hot in the payoff period, drilling another three-pointer to stretch Lyceum’s lead to four, 66-62, with 2:46 remaining.
The Red Cubs continued to fight back down the stretch, however, as Dwayne Nonato converted a layup to give San Beda one last lifeline, trimming the deficit to 68-67 with 43 seconds left.
After Johnelijah Rose missed a layup on the other end, San Beda had an opportunity to steal the game. However, Mahatma Adong misfired on a corner triple before Marl Berdan’s midrange attempt was swatted away by Steven Creus, allowing the Junior Pirates to escape with the hard-earned victory.
“Sobrang down na po kami,” said Aidan Peña, reflecting on his team’s struggles throughout the season. “In-u-up ko sila and sabi ko lang sa [teammates] ko, Walang mado-down. Play-in to, puwede tayong manalo at bilog ang bola.”
Peña led Lyceum with 15 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting clip, including three triples, while Creus chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds. Rose added nine markers.
For San Beda, Edlex Bonzalida paced the Red Cubs with 12 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, while Nonato, who is nursing a leg injury, played through the game and contributed 10 points and three assists off the bench in just 14 minutes and 25 seconds of action.
After struggling to find its footing and winning just one of its first seven games, the Braves mounted a late-season turnaround, winning four of their last six outings to finish the eliminations with a 5-8 record and claim fourth place.
Meanwhile, San Sebastian ended its Season 102 campaign with three wins and 11 losses under head coach Richie Melencio, falling short of forcing a winner-take-all clash on Saturday.
Arellano will now face Jose Rizal University in the quarterfinals, with the latter holding a twice-to-beat advantage. Their first meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 16, at 10:00 a.m. at the same venue.
“Every day naman sa ensayo, palagi kong sinasabi sa players na kailangan sa dinaanan naming games simula no’ng pag-start ng NCAA, kailangan ‘yong mga magandang lessons na nakuha namin, ‘yun ‘yung dala-dala namin,” said Arellano head coach Anthony Urbano.
The Braves held a 12-point advantage at one point in the final period, but San Sebastian refused to let its season end in a blowout. Trailing 66-54, the Staglets mounted an 18-8 run, capped by Khaizer Castillo’s jump shot that trimmed the deficit to one, 74-73, with 2:17 remaining.
Arellano appeared poised to pull away as Pillas and Thadeus Angeles converted free throws on consecutive possessions to restore a five-point cushion, 78-73, with 1:10 left.
However, Castillo kept San Sebastian’s hopes alive by completing a four-point play on the ensuing possession, cutting the deficit to one once again, 78-77, with 24.8 seconds remaining.
The Braves nearly squandered their advantage when Pillas was trapped by the Staglets’ full-court pressure and committed a costly turnover while attempting to pass to Angelo Cabantac.
San Sebastian, however, returned the favor on the ensuing possession, as Jermaine Sapo stole the ball from Castillo with 10.8 seconds remaining.
Angelo Lugo then converted his free throws with 1.7 seconds left to seal the victory and end the Staglets’ campaign.
With JRU next on the schedule, Urbano reminded his players not to let up after their hard-fought play-in victory.
“Sabi ko lang sa mga bata, ‘Wag tayong mag-relax kasi ‘di pa natin naririnig yung last buzzer. Wag tayong magpapahinga,” he said. “Yung puso na pinakita namin against JRU, dadagdagan pa namin. Mas mabigat ‘yung dinaanan natin basta sama-sama kami, magiging magaan ‘yung trabaho namin.”
Zaqueo Dalaten provided a spark off the bench with 17 points and three rebounds, while Hugo Ferriols added 16 points and five rebounds for Arellano.
For San Sebastian, Jaf Tepan paced the Staglets with a game-high 25 points, nine rebounds, and four three-pointers. Castillo chipped in 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals in their final game of the season.
The Scores:
First game:
Lyceum-Cavite 68 –– Peña 15, Creus 14, Pelayo 9, Rose 9, Odchina 7, Juan 6, Guevarra 3, Fabian 3, Yonzon 2, Tabora, 0, Cordero 0, Altamiranno 0.
San Beda-Rizal 67 – Bonzalida 12, Nonato 10, Reroma 9, Gerobin 9, Del Rosario 6, Salcedo 5, Buenaventura 4, Adong 2, Berdan 2, Marial 1, Barrion 0, Bonus 0.
Quarterscores: 21-23, 41-41, 49-48, 68-67.
Second game:
Arellano 82 – Pillas 20, Dalaten 17, Ferriols 16, Teoc 9, Sapo 6, Cabantac 4, Lugo 3, Angeles 3, Trinos 2, Garing 2, Castro 0,Tan 0, Mabbayad 0, Barinque 0, Asay 0.
San Sebastian 77 – Tepan 25, Castillo 20, Ramiso 14, Aninipot 5, Humady 5, Gutierrez 4, Pineda 2, Flores 1, Serrano 1, Pacheco 0, Cuya 0, Whittaker 0, Lazaro 0, Ezenwa 0, Gaviola 0.
Quarterscores: 20-13, 40-34, 59-54, 82-77.
