Lyceum of the Philippines University bucked a slow start to stun San Beda University, 89-81, to take its second win in the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball Tournament, Saturday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Down by three in the last four minutes of the ball game, Mclaude Guadana and Patrick Montano nailed a back-to-back three pointer to give the Pirates a three point, 84-81.
Shaun Umali followed it up with a bucket of his own, before Enoch Valdez dropped the slatch hammer for the dagger coming-off a Renzo Navarro assist, 88-81 with 1:13 left.
“I give credit to my players talaga kasi they’re the ones who are playing with their heart, they’re the ones who wants to win talaga,” said Pirates head coach Gilbert Malabanan. “Nakita ko talaga na they played as a team.”
Lyceum was down by as much as 15 in the opening frame but was able to turn things around in the third canto after a 12-0 run and eventually, getting the slight 66-65 advantage to enter the payoff period.
Four Pirates finished with double figures led by Montano with 18 points, five rebounds and two steals; while Valdez added 17 markers, eight boards, and three dimes.
Shaun Umali had 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists while John Barba went 5-of-5 from the field, scoring 12 points.
Despite only scoring two points, Navarro finished with a game-high seven assists. Meanwhile, back-up point guard Renz Villagas made the most in his NCAA debut, coming alive in the third quarter by scoring all of his eight points during that frame.
For San Beda, JB Bahio had a game-high 19 markers to go with five boards and two dimes; Damie Guntapay added 16 points, four rebounds and two assists; while James Kwekuteye finished with 15 points, five boards, and six dimes.
The Pirates grabbed their second straight win in three games, while the Red Lions could not make it two in a row, going down to 1-2.
Lyceum will look to extend its win streak to three against Emilio Aguinaldo College (0-3) on Tuesday at 3 PM, while San Beda will try to bounce back at the expense of San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Wednesday at 12 noon.
The Scores:
Lyceum (89) – Montaño 18, Valdez 17, Umali 14, Barba 12, Villegas 8, Guadaña 7, Peñafiel 6, Cunanan 4, Larupay 2, Navarro 1, Bravo 0, Omandac 0.
San Beda (81) – Bahio 19, Cuntapay 16, Kwekuteye 15, Alfaro 13, Ynot 10, Cortez 8, Sanchez 0, Andrada 0, Cometa 0, Visser 0, Jopia 0, Tagala 0, Llarena 0.
Quarterscores: 16-27, 40-48, 66-65, 89-81.
