By MARK REY MONTEJO
Enoch Valdez displayed poise under pressure, nailing the go-ahead triple in the crunch to lift Lyceum past Jose Rizal University in overtime, 99-96, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Valdez made sure the Pirates would not suffer the same heartbreak they experienced at the hands of the Heavy Bombers in the first round, drilling the booming trey with 29.5 seconds left to split their season matchup.
Valdez’s heroics preserved the 20-point and 9-assist of Vince Cunanan while he wound up with 14 points.
Patrick Montaño also added 14 while Shawn Umali, who made a layup that forced overtime had 13 points and six rebounds to break their three-loss skid (7-3).
More than the big baskets, Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan lauded the team’s 29 assists which underscored the team’s creativity and unselfish plays.
“Kita nyo naman 29 assists, we played as a team,” Malabanan said. “It was a total team effort, no doubt about it.”
With Agem Miranda and Marwin Dionisio leading the charge, JRU was still ahead midway of the final frame, 84-75, before the Pirates, behind Valdez and Cunanan, bunched eight points to close the gap, 84-83.
The two teams traded baskets from there before Umali and Valdez came through with the big hits.
Joshua Guiab chalked up 21 points and 10 rebounds while Miranda backstopped him with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. JL Delos Santos also tallied double-double effort of 14 points and 11 assists in a losing cause at 6-4 win-loss record.
The scores:
First Game
LPU 99 – Cunanan 20, Valdez 14, Montano 14, Umali 13, Barba 12, Bravo 10, Penafiel 5, Villegas 4, Omandac 3, Aviles 2, Culanay 2, Fuentes 0, Versoza 0.
JRU 96 – Guiab 21, Miranda 19, Delos Santos 14, Argente 10, Sarmiento 8, Dionisio 6, Medina 6, Pabico 6, Sy 3, Arenal 2, dela Rosa 1, De Leon 0, Ramos 0, Mosqueda 0.
Quarters: 28-23; 54-53; 71-72; 87-all (OT); 99-96.
