ERLAN Umpad made nine of 10 shots as Lyceum stunned University of the Philippines, 111-84, in the 9th PCABL (Philippine Chinese Amateur Basketball League) FREEGO Cup last Saturday at the Philippine Buddhacare Academy gym in Quezon City.
Umpad also had a completed three-point play to finish with 19 points aside from grabbing 13 boards – seven of them offensively – to help power the Junior Pirates to their second straight win while handing the Junior Maroons their first defeat in three games.
In a show of force, three other Lyceum players also scored in double digits with Leejam Salazar finishing with 18 markers on an impressive 6-of-8 shooting from the three-point area while Chester Jungco and Makki Santos combined for 26 points.
Adamson also improved its record to 2-0 after mauling University of Perpetual Help, 94-61, thanks to the big games of Joem Sabandal (21 points) and Gerry Abandiano (19 pts.) while Arellano University got 22 points from Carlo Abadeza and another 20 from Lars Sunga to outlast Hope Christian High School, 88-86, for a 2-1 record.
Benedict Cruz scattered 24 points as La Salle Greenhills debuted on a high note, beating Letran, 94-73, in the tournament also sponsored by Smart, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Hapee Toothpaste, Insular Square (Cebu), and New Pioneer Auto Supply (Cebu).
Meanwhile, reigning UAAP champion National University recovered from a shock 78-76 loss to UP by beating Chiang Kai Shek College, 96-87, in last week’s schedule that also saw Arellano beat San Sebastian, 111-73, and UP outlast Letran, 88-86.
NU flaunted its firepower right in the opening quarter, outscoring CKS, 31-16, to win with nary a trouble.
Six players scored 10 points or more with Karl Penano topscoring with 19 points aside from posting nine boards and two assists and a block to emerge as the Freego Best Player of the game.
Also earning accolades for the week were UP’s Juan Gomez de Lliano, Arellano’s Aaron Fermin, Abadeza, Cruz, and Umpad.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph