ARELLANO rode on the massive shoulders of Lorenz Capulong down the stretch to pull down rising Lyceum of the Philippines, 91-86, in Saturday’s NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
Capulong finished with a career-game 30 points and 16 rebounds, while taking charge for the Chiefs in the final minutes of a game marred by a misfortune that saw Lyceum’s JM Bravo being knocked down unconscious at the FilOil EcoOil Arena floor in the final eight seconds.
READ: JM Bravo stretchered out of LPU's loss to Arellano, now conscious
The Arellano big man scored five straight points inside the final five minutes to give Arellano an 84-76 lead and enough cushion to withstand a strong finishing kick from the Pirates.
Arellano is now at 4-8 and remain in the running for a Final Four berth with their latest win against another title contending team after earlier victories over defending champion San Beda and league leader College of St. Benilde.
“Yun ang play namin. Sabi ni coach Chico (Manabat) kaya namin sila (Lyceum) sa ilalim kasi undersized sila,” said Capulong of his career-best game.
Maverick Vinoya added 14 points for Arellano, which didn’t clinch the win until Greg Geronimo and Renzo Abiera scored back-to-back baskets and broke a tight 86-86 game.
The loss evened Lyceum’s record at 6-6, but compounding its woes was the mishap suffered by Bravo, who was left unconscious to the floor after a head-on collision with Abiera with eight seconds left and the Pirates down by four.
Bravo, playing in just his fourth game back after missing the first round with a spine injury, had to be stretchered out of the playing court, but not after responding for 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists on a 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
Scoring leader Ato Barba led Lyceum with 18 points.
The scores
Arellano 91 – Capulong 30, Vinoya 14, Valencia 9, Miller 9, Borromeo 7, Abiera 4, Camay 4, Geronimo 4, Hernal 3, Flores 3, Libang 2, Ongotan 2, Rosalin 0.
Lyceum 86 – Barba 18, Bravo 17, Villegas 15, Montaño 10, Daileg 9, Peñafiel 5, Aviles 4, Versoza 4, Panelo 4, Pallingayan 0, Moralejo 0, Cunanan 0.
Quarters: 26-17; 54-46; 72-68; 91-86.
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