Lyceum clinches second seed, survives physical encounter vs JRU

The Lyceum Pirates needed to gut it out against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, taking a 77-64 victory to clinch second seed in the NCAA Season 95 Seniors Basketball Tournament, Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Mike Nzeusseu powered Lyceum to a 13-4 slate with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. Still, Topex Robinson rued the Heavy Bombers’ defense on the Cameroonian big man.

“I’m really frustrated with the way the calls have been made. If they’re gonna be mad at me, so be it. I just wanna be out there and tell them they should improve their officiating. It’s destroying the essence of this game,” lamented Robinson.

With Nzeusseu stymied, the Heavy Bombers kept close with the Pirates midway through the final frame, 57-64.

Jaycee Marcelino and Reymar Caduyac then used their experience, making the big buckets to give Lyceum a 69-57 cushion with 3:07 left.

Marcelino had 23 points and five rebounds while Caduyac added nine points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

Tancsingco provided the spark for the Pirates with 10 points built on two triples.

“It’s gonna be big for us to create momentum as we go to the stretch. Kumbaga home stretch na ito ng season. Every opportunity for us to really learn and grow is gonna be big for us,” said Robinson as they take on San Beda on Thursday at 4:00 pm.

JRU lost their fifth straight game to fall to 4-12. They were paced by John Delos Santos’ 19-point, six-rebound, and three-assist outing. Ronnie Aguilar had 16 points as well.

The Scores:

LPU 77 — Jc. Marcelino 23, Nzeusseu 15, Tansingco 10, Caduyac 9, David 6, Santos 6, Jv. Marcelino 5, Ibanez 3, Navarro 0, Yong 0, Remulla 0.

JRU 64 — Delos Santos 19, Aguilar 16, Miranda 10, Dela Rosa 9, Amores 6, Dionisio 2, Vasquez 2, Arenal 0, Jungco 0.

Quarterscores: 15-14, 43-33, 57-47, 77-64.