LYCEUM got back on the winning column at the expense of San Sebastian, 93-85, and rekindled its Final Four hopes in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Pirates blew the game apart in the third quarter behind a huge scoring run instigated by Renz Villegas and Ato Barba to pull off the much-needed win and stop a three-game skid that compromised their bid for a semis berth.
Pirates back in Final Four frame
The host school improved to a 7-8 record in a tie with Letran - both just a game behind No. 4 Emilio Aguinaldo College (7-7).
“I told the boys na yung tatlong losses namin are already in the past. Ang importante kasi is now, kung ano yung meron kami,” said an obviously relieved Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan.
Lyceum began the second round on a high note with back-to-back wins against fellow Final Four contenders Letran and defending champion San Beda.
But the team lost its next three games to Arellano, Perpetual Help, and Mapua as it reeled back in the standings and fell out of the Top 4.
And so this victory against the Stags somehow came like a timely rain in the middle of the summer.
Villegas posted a career game of 25 points and Barba added 20 as the Pirates outgunned the Stags in transition, 28-10, especially in the middle quarters when they pulled away from San Sebastian for good.
Villegas was 9-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Lyceum will have Jose Rizal University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and league-leader College of St. Benilde for its final three assignments in the eliminations.
The Pirates held their biggest lead at 74-50 before the Stags made a belated bid in the homestretch and made it an eight-game contest in the end.
Tristan Felebrico had 18 points in a losing cause for San Sebastian, which fell to a 4-11 slate and on the brink of missing a shot for the remaining Final Four berths.
The scores:
Lyceum (93) - Villegas 25, Barba 20, Peñafiel 10, Montaño 9, Guadaña 8, Panelo 6, Cunanan 4, Versoza 4, Daileg 3, Aviles 2, Moralejo 2, Caduyac 0.
San Sebastian (85) - Felebrico 18, Aguilar 14, Are 12, Escobido 12, Velasco 6, R. Gabat 5, L. Gabat 4, Pascual 4, Barroga 3, Suico 3, Lintol 2, Cruz 2, Maliwat 0, Ramilo 0, Ricio 0.
Quarterscores: 16-17; 40-33; 71-50; 93-85.
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