Pirates repulse Chiefs, snare 4th straight win
Lyceum of the Philippines University crushed Arellano U with a fourth quarter blitz, romping off with a 99-65 victory to stretch its win run to four in the 93rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.
CJ Perez presided over the Pirates’ attack in the last 10 minutes, scoring eight of his game-high 16 points as they outscored the Chiefs, 36-16, to post the 34-point victory.
Lyceum thus posted its best-ever start at 4-0 since it entered the league six seasons ago while matching its longest win run late in the second round four years ago.
The Muralla-based school’s impressive start also made the team, which never placed higher than sixth in six years, an early title contender, having beaten the two squads which disputed last year’s crown – San Beda and Arellano.
Lyceum coach Topex Robinson said their main focus is to keep on winning.
“The championship is there, but it’s not yet within our reach. We have to keep on winning and getting used to winning together,” said Robinson.
Twins Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino shot 16 and eight points, respectively, and flashed their defensive prowess as they alternated in holding Kent Salado to just 11 points.
The Arellano U top gun went on a miserable five-of-15 shooting.
“Coach told us to stop him and make it hard for him and we concentrated on doing that,” said Jaycee. The Chiefs fell to 2-2. Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College relied on its bench to beat Mapua, 7772, and join Arellano at 2-2.
Sydney Onwubere hit a game-high 22 points, including a clutch triple, while Jervin Guzman, Jesse Bautista and Raymund Pascua came off the bench to shoot 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Generals.
Robert Bolick and Jayvee Mocon combined for 39 points as San Beda trounced Letran, 81-74, to stay within striking distance of Lyceum at 3-1.
Bolick fired a game-best 22 points and had five rebounds and the same number of assists while Mocon fell two assists short of a triple-double with 17 points and 10 caroms.
The Knights slid to 2-2.