LYCEUM went to Jonathan Daileg when the going got tough and the forward delivered in a 74-65 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College that assured the Pirates of at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
Daileg scored all of his 11 points in the pivotal fourth period in a scoring outburst that helped the Pirates erase a five-point deficit and clinch the must-needed win to improve tot 9-8 for solo fourth place.
The host school’s third straight win also served as a fitting welcome for John Bravo, who returned to the team’s active roster three weeks since falling unconscious during the Pirates’ game against the Arellano Chiefs.
Finally given the clearance to play after undergoing concussion protocols, he finished with two points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes of play in his first game back after missing the team’s four previous outings.
Lyceum will automatically earn a spot in the Final Four should it get past co-league leader College of St. Benilde (13-3) on Friday.
The loss left Emilio Aguinaldo College with an 8-9 record in a tie with the Letran Knights at fifth spot.
But the Generals still have a shot at a first ever semifinals stint should they beat also-ran Jose Rizal University on Friday and a Lyceum loss to St. Benilde.
A thee-way or a two-way tie are also possible for the last Final Four berth involving Lyceum, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Letran.
The Generals controlled the game for the most part, stretching a 45-43 lead to 54-49 on a free throw by Wilmar Oftana with seven minutes left in the game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
But Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan pulled off his ‘magic bunot’ in Daileg, who responded big time to the call of the Pirates and turned the game around.
The scores:
Lyceum (74) - Villegas 12, Daileg 11, Guadaña 10, Barba 9, Versoza 9, Cunanan 8, Peñafiel 5, Aviles 4, Montaño 2, Bravo 2, Moralejo 2, Panelo 0, Paulo 0, Pallingayan 0, Gordon 0.
Emilio Aguinaldo (65) - Pagsanjan 16, Gurtiza 14, Lucero 8, Bagay 7, Quinal 5, Loristo 5, Oftana 4, Luciano 4, Umpad 2, Ochavo 0, Jacob 0, Doromal 0, Bacud 0.
Quarterscores: 20-16; 30-27; 43-45; 74-65.
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