JOSHUA Moralejo went unconscious in the second half to lead Lyceum to a much needed 78-66 upset win over San Beda in the NCAA Season 101 on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Moralejo scored the Pirates’ final 11 points to finally create separation from the Red Lions, giving Lyceum something to cheer about in a rough season filled with heartbreaks and disappointments.
Moralejo finished with 24 points, all of which coming in the second half to push Lyceum to 2-7 for the season.
"Sabi ko nga sa kanya kung ano kinain niya kanina, yun ang kainin niya the next game," Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malaban said in jest.
"Pero again, I believe and trust all my players especially Josh. Last year na niya ngayon, sabi ko sa kanya just show your talent, I give you the freedom. Ayun, talagang pinakita niya na this is his last year and he wants to exit sa NCAA with a bang," he added.
"Talagang pinakita niya kanina. Yung kumpyansa niya talaga, binigay namin, pati si Ato [Barba] at Renz [Villegas] talagang binibigay sa kanya kasi siya yung mainit e. The good thing is the communication of my players, that's one thing I'm happy to see."
Moralejo's explosion came such at right time as Janti Miller was starting to heat up for the Red Lions and San Beda making one last rally - a scene that Lyceum knows all too well.
But unlike the previous games where the Pirates broke down in the end, Moralejo made sure that they won't capsize this time around, hitting three tough three-pointers, most of which coming from way downtown, before scoring on a driving lay-up which gave the Pirates a 78-64 lead with 90 seconds remaining in the ball game.
Moralejo, who came in as the league's best three-point shooter at 52 percent, continued to wax hot as he drilled five of his seven attempts in this game while adding five boards and four assists to his name.
As a team, the Pirates shot a blazing 14-of-26 from downtown.
Gyle Montano also had his best game this season with 15 points and six rebounds while Ato Barba chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Miller, this season's leading scorer, led the Red Lions with 22 points and six rebounds while Bismarck Lina added 12 points and eight boards as they dropped to 6-3, now tied with the Benilde Blazers for the top spot in Group B with a 6-3 record.
The scores:
LYCEUM 78 – Moralejo 24, Montaño 15, Barba 10, Aviles 6, Gordon 6, Peñafiel 5, Versoza 4, Daileg 3, Aurigue 3, Villegas 2, Casiño 0, Pallingayan 0, Matienzo 0, Fuentes 0
SAN BEDA 66 – Miller 22, Lina 12, Andrada 6, Etulle 6, Vailoces 6, Sajonia 5, Gonzales 4, Reyes 2, Celzo 2, Jalbuena 1, Estacio 0, Culdora 0, Bonzalida 0
Quarters: 18-19, 36-31, 58-51, 78-66
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