Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
2 p.m. — Saint Benilde vs Mapua
4 p.m. — EAC vs JRU
Lyceum of the Philippines University weathered San Sebastian College’s third quarter fightback to keep its unbeaten record intact with an 83-72 victory in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 seniors’ basketball competition yesterday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Pirates had a tough time shaking off the pesky Stags before clamping down on defense in the payoff period and unleashing a closing 9-0 barrage to get out of trouble and solidify their hold of the solo lead with an immaculate 4-0 win-loss record.
However, Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan felt that his wards could’ve done a better job repelling San Sebastian.
“I’m not really that happy with our game even though we won,” Malabanan said while ruing his players’ lapses especially in adjusting to the Stags’ 2-3 zone.
“But I have to give credit to them despite some instances of lapses. Still, a win is a win.”
John Barba led the Pirates with 20 points and five rebounds. Barba’s layup with 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter capped Lyceum’s decisive salvo to wiggle out of a slim 74-72 lead.
Shawn Umali continued his stellar outing with 14 points and eight rebounds while JM Bravo had a double-double game of 10 points and 10 rebounds for Lyceum.
The Stags slid to a 1-2 mark despite the 15-point effort of Rafael Are and Regzz Gabat’s near double-double of 13 markers and eight boards.
In the first game, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta snapped its two-game losing skid at the expense of listless Arellano University, 85-66.
The Altas took control of the game early, racing to an 18-8 lead on their way to barging into the win column.
Perpetual went up by as many as 29 points after Marcus Nitura drilled a triple with 7:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Altas rained down 10 triples and pulled down 63 rebounds.
Nitura paced Perpetual with 19 points and nine rebounds while Christian Pagaran dropped 17 markers and got seven rebounds. Mark Omega had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Altas.
Arellano’s Jade Talampas fired 26 points in a losing effort as the Chiefs joined defending champion Letran College at the bottom of the standings winless in three tries.
