By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Lyceum whipped up a fourth-quarter explosion as it turned back a fiesty Mapua side, 96-81, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
John Barba delivered the goods once again for the Pirates by pumping in 25 points — his fourth straight time to score more than 20 points — while hauling nine rebounds.
It was Lyceum’s third consecutive victory after suffering back-to-back losses at the start of the season, hiking their tally to 3-2 and creating a four-way tie at third place with Mapua, San Beda and Letran.
The win also halted the Cardinals’ imposing three-game winning streak.
Trailing by only a point after three quarters, 66-65, the Pirates immediately stepped on the gas with Vincent Cunanan and Jonathan Daileg unleashing an 8-0 blast to grab the 73-66 upperhand with 7:23 to go.
That set the tone for Lyceum as it never relinquished its lead since then, even holding Mapua to only one point in the last 2:45 of the game.
“This is a big morale booster for us heading to our next game against (College of) St. Benilde,” said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan, referring to the league-leading Blazers.
“For sure, we will enjoy this moment, but tomorrow, it’s back to work,” he added.
McLaude Gaudana also spelled the difference for the Pirates by finishing with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Cunanan and Daileg chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Mapua led by as many as 11 points, 45-34, late in the second quarter, but lost its steam when it mattered most.
Jenco Bancale scored 14 points, while Clint Escamis and Chris Hubilla had 13 points apiece in a losing effort for the Cardinals.
The scores:
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.
