LYCEUM is fast turning out to be this season’s biggest surprise. Adding defending two-time champion Letran to the list of its victims only further boosted that belief.
Thanks to a big second half attack, the Pirates stunned the Knights, scoring an 82-75 victory for their fifth straight win and a piece of the lead in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Mclaude Guadaña scattered a game-high 20 points spiked by three three-pointers, to go with two rebounds and two assists for Lyceum, while John Barba chipped in 12 markers, eight boards, and two dimes.
Patrick Montano and Renzo Navarro also had 12 and 11 points, respectively for the Pirates, who scored a fitting follow-up to their 82-77 decision over Perpetual Help five days ago and rose to 5-1 in a tie with College of St. Benilde.
Undermanned Letran, still without key players Brent Paraiso and Louie Sangalang, failed to atone for a 68-76 loss to San Beda University last Friday and dropped to 3-3.
Paraiso (comments on officiating) and Sangalang (cursing and flashing the middle finger to a game official) were initially handed a one-game suspension each but were elevated to two after further review.
Earlier, Arellano University turned back hapless Mapua University 64-59 to rediscover its winning ways.
“First of all, ang masasabi ko sa game namin very, very tough game and we know naman Letran is the defending champion. (Mayroon silang) a heart of the champion,” Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan said.
“Kailangan lang namin tapatan iyong aggressiveness nila so iyon lang naman iyong importante doon and of course number one din iyong following the system and trusting each other, that’s the number one kaya kami nanalo,” he added.
The Pirates fell 35-46 at the half but battled back and took a 61-60 cushion heading into the final canto.
Fran Yu carried the fight for the Knights with 18 points and three feeds, while Kurt Reyson added 16 markers, six rebounds, and six assists.
King Caralipio and Kevin Santos also got 12 and 10 points, respectively for Letran.
Axel Doromal fired 16 points on two treys, on top of two rebounds for the Chiefs, while Fil-Aussie big man Cade Flores chipped in 14 markers, 11 boards, and five assists.
Shane Menina also had 13 and three as Arellano rebounded from a 72-84 defeat to College of St. Benilde last Wednesday and improved to 4-3.
The Cardinals, coming off a 64-67 overtime setback to Jose Rizal University three days ago, tumbled to 0-7.
Mapua’s 66-55 win over San Beda University on opening day last Sept. 10 was also forfeited by the league last Saturday after the Cardinals fielded an ineligible player in Gab Gamboa in that game.
“Alam natin second place ang (Mapua) last NCAA (season), so intact iyong line-up so kailangan talaga magtrabaho sila sa depensa,” Chiefs strategist Cholo Martin said. “Hindi puwedeng mag-relax. Kapag nag-relax ka doon, patay na naman kami.”
Arellano took a 27-26 buffer at the break and still led 46-38 going into the payoff period.
Paolo Hernandez paced Mapua with 14 points and 11 caroms, while Arvin Gamboa added 11 markers.
Warren Bonifacio and Rence Nocum also combined for 20 points for the Cards.
