CJ Perez and the Lyceum of the Philippines University are starting to make things look easy
After figuring in a close first half, the league-leaders pushed the pace, eventually romping the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas, 76-58, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Lyceum continued their school-record start, extending their winning streak to six games, while Perpetual dropped to 2-3.
CJ Perez once again filled up the stat sheet with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Team captain MJ Ayaay, who was celebrating his 24th birthday, added 12 points and nine rebounds.
And when the Altas thought that they had solved Lyceum during the third frame, the Pirates suddenly flipped their switch.
“Actually during the first half medyo tight sila, they were not having fun. Obviously kasi parang ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng malaking crowd,” said Lyceum assistant coach Jeff Perlas. “Medyo tight yung mga players so during halftime coach Topex [Robinson] just reminded them it’s not about our offense eh, it’s all about our defense, forcing turnovers, making stops, we can have easy points na lang off those turnovers.”
Down 35-34 early in the third frame, the Pirates went on a 16-1 run sparked by the troika of Perez, Reymar Caduyac, and JV Marcelino. Lyceum went to their bread and butter during that run, suffocating Perpetual with their pressing defense while displaying ball movement on the other end. The run lasted for four minutes and 51 seconds.
“Yun talaga identity namin, making stops, secondary na yung offense,” added Perlas, who was part of the coaching staff of the 2014 NU Bulldogs team.
Just like in their game against Saint Benilde, the Pirates did not let up in the final frame, as the lead went to as high as 23 points, 76-53, after back-to-back baskets by the Marcelino twins with 1:03 left in the game.
Mike Nzeusseu added nine points and nine rebounds, as Lyceum forced Perpetual to commit 27 turnovers that led to 23 points. Moreover, this was the most points allowed Perpetual this season.
Prince Eze finished the game with 21 points and 19 rebounds. Lead gunner GJ Ylagan was limited to just seven points on 3-for-11 shooting.
Lyceum will go on the road for the first time this season as they head to EAC on Thursday, August 10. Perpetual, on the other hand, take on the Letran Knights on Friday, August 11, at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
LPU 76 – Perez 19, Ayaay 12, Nzeusseu 9, Baltazar 9, Marcelino JV 8, Ibanez 5, Marcelino JC 4, Caduyac 4, Santos 4, Serrano 2, Tansingco 0, Marata 0, Liwag 0.
UPHSD 58 – Eze 21, Ylagan 7, Dagangon 7, Pido 6, Coronel 6, Sadiwa 4, Hao 3, Singontiko 2, Casas 2, Yuhico 0, Lucente 0, Tamayo 0, Mangalino 0.
Quarterscores: 16-13, 34-30, 52-40, 76-58.
