Games Tomorrow
(SSCR gym, Manila)
2 p.m. – SSCR vs JRU (Jrs)
4 p.m. – SSCR vs JRU (Srs)
The Lyceum Pirates continued their rampage as they added the Arellano University Chiefs to their growing list of victims with a 99-65 drubbing to firm up their hold of the solo lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Their running game as smooth as a royal silk, the Pirates immediately controlled the tempo of the game, taking a 20-11 lead in the first 10 minutes before ripping the game wide apart in the third through another inspired plays of CJ Perez.
But it was not only Perez who delivered for the Pirates as Jaycee Marcelino and Jesper Ayaay also made their presence felt, catching the Chiefs off-guard with their razor-sharp plays.
So winning their fourth straight game was not a problem – thanks to a big fourth quarter explosion where they outscored their rivals, 36-16.
It was the team’s best start since joining the league in 2011, while matching its longest winning run since 2013.
Perez scored 16 points, Jaycee Marcelino added 13 points on a 5-of-6 shooting from the field while Ayaay flirted with double-double by posting 13 points and nine boards.
Meantime, reigning champion San Beda College extended its winning streak to three games with an 81-74 win over Letran.
The Red Lions once again leaned on the clutch baskets of Robert Bolick and jayvee Mocon to improve their record to 4-1. The Knights fell to 1-3.
In the first game, Sidney Onwubere delivered at crunch time as Emilio Aguinaldo College stunned Mapua, 77-72.
Onwubere sank a booming trey and two charities to steer an 11-2 run from the Generals, who grabbed the 75-69 edge in the final 27 seconds and never looked back.
The 6-foot-4 forward finished with 22 points, while collaring eight rebounds and dishing off two assists.
The win leveled EAC’s win-loss record to 2-2, while Mapua dropped to its second straight loss and slipped to 1-3.
Jervin Guzman also shone for the Generals with 13 points, while Jesse Bautista had a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards.