Streaking Lyceum wins 3rd straight, snaps Mapua 3-win run; Altas add to Stags’ woes
MANILA, Philippines – In a battle of two streaking NCAA teams, Lyceum prevailed over red-hot Mapua with a 31-15 fourth-quarter eruption on the way to a 96-81 win as the Season 100 men’s basketball tournament progressed at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Tuesday, September 24.
Super scorer John Barba continued his torrid start for the Pirates’ promising campaign with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 4-of-5 from three to go with 9 rebounds amid a three-game winning streak to improve to a 3-2 record.
Mac Guadana scattered 16 points, 5 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, while Vincent Cunanan tallied a 15-point, 6-rebound, 5-dime line.
Jeco Bancale paced the loss that sent the Cardinals down a 3-2 slate with 14 points in just 18 minutes as reigning MVP Clint Escamis got shackled to a 13-point outing on a 2-of-13 clip and 0-of-7 from deep.
Meanwhile, the Perpetual Altas continued their underrated rise up the ranks in the first game of the double-header with a 60-52 upheaval of the reeling San Sebastian Stags for a 4-2 record.
Christian Pagaran and Cedrick Abis led the low-scoring affair with 12 points apiece, while rising star Mark Gojo Cruz took a slight step back with 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting.
Paeng Are towed the losing cause with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as the once-promising Stags now find themselves on a four-game skid on the way to a 2-4 slate after starting the season with two Are-charged come-from-behind wins.
The Scores
First Game
Perpetual 60 – Pagaran 12, Abis 12, Gojo Cruz 10, Gelsano 8, Boral 8, Orgo 6, Pizarro 4, Nuñez 0, Manuel 0, Montemayor 0.
San Sebastian 52 – Are 11, L. Gabat 8, Escobido 7, R. Gabat 5, Pascual 5, Felebrico 5, Velasco 4, Maliwat 3, Ricio 2, Lintol 2, Aguilar 0, Suico 0, Barroga 0, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 14-11, 34-28, 48-38, 60-52.
Second Game
Lyceum 96 – Barba 25, Guadaña 16, Cunanan 15, Daileg 14, Villegas 8, Caduyac 6, Peñafiel 5, Montaño 5, Aviles 2, Panelo 0.
Mapua 81 – Bancale 14, Escamis 13, Hubilla 13, Cuenco 11, Mangubat 10, Igliane 6, Concepcion 5, Recto 4, Ryan 3, Jabonete 2, Agemenyi 0.
Quarters: 22-25, 39-45, 65-66, 96-81.
– Rappler.com