Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
2 p.m. — Letran vs Perpetual
4 p.m. — Saint Benilde vs Mapua
Enoch Valdez showed the way in crunch time to carry Lyceum of the Philippines University to a slump-breaking 99-96 overtime win over Jose Rizal University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 seniors basketball competition yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The graduating forward drilled the go-ahead triple with 28 seconds left before splitting his free throws 12 ticks later as the Pirates snapped a three-game skid for a 7-4 win-loss record at solo third spot.
“I think my team deserves to win because they worked for it,” Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan said.
“We never even talked about our three-game losing streak. I just told them that they need to work for every win now that we’re in the second round.”
Vince Cunanan came a rebound short of a double-double, putting in 20 points and nine boards while Valdez finished with 14 markers to lead Lyceum to a sweet revenge from an 87-88 double-overtime loss to the Heavy Bombers last 17 October.
The Pirates made a decisive defensive stop with the game knotted at 87 with under a minute left when Shawn Umali blocked Marwin Dionisio’s final attempt to force the game into overtime.
Valdez sank a huge trey that put Lyceum on top, 98-96, after trailing by two.
Valdez, who had four rebounds and eight assists, then calmly swished his first free throw before missing the next to give the Pirates a three-point lead.
JRU’s Agem Miranda crumbled under tremendous pressure with 1.6 seconds remaining as he missed both his foul shots.
