Lyceum of the Philippines University showed incredible poise late in the game as it edged Mapua, 86-82, yesterday and seized a share of the lead with its recent victim in Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
The Pirates were armed with a 14-point lead with three minutes to go but got alarmed when Clint Esamis of the Cardinals attempted to turn things around.
Still, it wasn’t enough as Mapua sank to a 9-3 card but nonetheless remained on top of the leaderboard with its recent tormentor.
“We don’t look at the standings, we just keep on grinding, working,” said a hoarse Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan, whose squad started the tournament with six straight wins, dropped the next three games and racked up three victories, including its triumph over Mapua.
Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College completed its strong season sweep and Final Four elimination of Letran College with a 82-69 beatdown of the dethroned three-peat champion.
The frontcourt duo of JP Maguliano and Nat Cosejo presided over the carnage.
Maguiliano banged in 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Cosejo hit 18 and collared 10 boards and Ralph Robin chipped in 16 to power the Generals to a 7-5 mark and boost their chances of making a return trip to the semis for the first time in over 10 years.
EAC actually got the job done minus head coach Jerson Cabiltes, who excused himself to call the shots for the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in its crucial semis clash with the San Juan Knights in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
While the Generals whooped it up, the Knights dropped to their 11th defeat in 12 assignments, sending them crashing out of the title race.
