By CARLO ANOLIN
Cade Flores and Axel Doromal formed a dynamic one-two punch as Arellano snapped its three-game skid with a 77-63 win against Lyceum in the second round of the NCAA Season 98 Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The do-it-all Flores put up a monster performance of 23 points –thanks to an 8-of-11 shooting from the free throw line apart from posting 12 rebounds, seven steals, and two assists.
Doromal, who took charge down the stretch, chalked up 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists while Jade Talampas also had nine points and five rebounds for Arellano, which improved to a 5-6 record.
The Chiefs, however, needed a strong and efficient third quarter run powered by the duo to turn the tides.
Arellano led by as many as 19 points (62-43) heading into the payoff period as the Chiefs outscored the Pirates, 31-14.
Lyceum showed some resistance as Renz Villegas and JM Bravo connived to cut Arellano’s lead down to 10, 68-58.
But Doromal played the spoiler’s role and only needed two straight conversions to hand Arellano another 14-point cushion, 75-61, with less than two minutes and 30 seconds remaining.
While Flores provided the spark for Arellano, it was Doromal who put the nail in the coffin as he continued to torch Lyceum to pull away for good until the last minute.
Villegas paced Lyceum with 12 points, Bravo chipped in 12 points as well along with 12 rebounds, while John Barba and Enoch Valdez had nine points apiece.
The Pirates misfired this time as sharpshooter Mclaude Guadana was limited to two points on a dismal 1-of-8 shooting clip.
The scores:
ARELLANO 77 – Flores 23, Doromal 18, Talampas 9, Menina 8, Mallari 6, Tolentino 6, Domingo 2, Abastillas 2, Sunga 2, Oliva 1, Mantua 0, Oftana 0.
LPU 63 Bravo 12, Villegas 12, Barba 9, Valdez 9, Navarro 4, Umali 4, Larupay 3, Montaño 3, Vinoya 3, Cunanan 2, Guadaña 2, Aviles 0, Caduyac 0, Culanay 0.
Quarters: 20-21, 33-34, 64-48, 77-63.
