By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Vincent Cunanan drained back-to-back triples in a span of 21 seconds as Lyceum squeaked past defending champion San Beda, 64-62, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The 5-foot-10 playmaker stepped up when needed most by rifling his first triple with 29.6 seconds left to give the Pirates a 61-60 edge before delivering the telling one in the last 8.6 ticks with another trey to answer back Zachary Estacio’s jumper for San Beda and iced the game.
It was Lyceum’s second straight victory to hike its win-loss tally to 6-5, tying with Letran at fourth place.
It also avenged the Pirates’ 79-63 opening-day loss to the Red Lions last Sept. 7.
Cunanan shot 4-of-11 from the field, but finished with 11 points including six in the pivotal 30 seconds of the game.
Gyle Montano, meanwhile, paced Lyceum with 12 points and two rebounds, while John Bravo contributed nine points and seven boards. Jonathan Daileg also shone when it mattered most, unloading five of his seven points in the fourth quarter.
Lyceum and San Beda kept the game close, battling through four deadlocks and 14 lead changes. The Red Lions attempted to set the pace by leading as many as 11 points, 23-12, but the Pirates fought back with their solid defense anchored on Bravo and John Barba.
A Montano jumper and two charities from Renz Villegas gave Lyceum its biggest lead at only four, 48-44, with 9:24 left in the game, but it was enough to fuel its resolve until the dying seconds.
In fact, the Red Lions tried to steal the game after Cunanan’s second three-pointer, but the Pirates’ stifling defense cause Bryan Sajonia to lose the ball, dashing San Beda’s hopes.
Bismarck Lina scored 12 points and eight rebounds, while Yukien Andrada and Jomel Puno had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Red Lions, who fell to third place at 7-4.
The scores
LYCEUM 64 – Montaño 12, Cunanan 11, Bravo 9, Daileg 7, Villegas 6, Aviles 5, Barba 4, Peñafiel 4, Panelo 2, Versoza 2, Gordon 2, Moralejo 0, Pallingayan 0.
SAN BEDA 62 – Lina 12, Andrada 11, Puno 10, Sajonia 8, Estacio 8, Payosing 6, Tagle 5, Songcuya 2, Gonzales 0, Celzo 0, RC Calimag 0, Royo 0.
Quarters: 12-20; 31-32; 44-44; 64-62.
