NCAA: Mbida bails out Pirates; Chiefs prevail

MANILA, Philippines—Cameroonian forward Guy Mbida knocked in a triple with 16 seconds left in overtime as Lyceum outlasted Jose Rizal U, 84-80, in a thriller Friday night for its second straight victory in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Pirates squandered an 11-point lead in the last four minutes of regulation, before Mbida bailed them out with the game’s biggest shot in the extra period.

It was the Pirates’ third win in five games as they climbed to solo fifth, while snapping the Heavy Bombers’ two-game winning streak.

Earlier, Arellano rediscovered its lethal form just in time to thump a game Mapua squad, 68-63, and forge a tie for third spot.

Using a balanced offensive, the Chiefs responded to the challenge in the final period with Keith Agovida and Ralph Salcedo burying timely baskets to hold off the Cardinals, who lost for the fourth straight game.

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 3-1, tying the San Sebastian Stags.

Mbida wound up with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in another all-around performance that drew praise from coach Bonnie Tan.

Stepping up for the injured Shane Ko, Allyn Malabanan also sparkled with 13 points, including a layup that put the Pirates within 79-80 with a minute left.

“I told the players to stay composed,” said Tan, after his squad pulled off the season’s first overtime win.

The Heavy Bombers clawed their way back from a 62-73 deficit behind Michael Mabulac, Philip Paniamogan and Bernabe Teodoro, whose layup with 8.6 ticks left forced overtime at 75-all.

But JRU was held scoreless in the last 3:56 of the overtime period.

The scores:

First Game

ARELLANO 68—Agovida 12, Salcedo 10, Pinto 10, Holts 10, Hernandez 8, Gumaru 7, Jalalon 6, Caperal 4, Ciriacruz 1, Nicholls 0, Bangga 0, Palma 0, Ortega 0, Cadavis 0.

MAPUA 63—Estrella 20, Gabo 10, Saitanan 9, Isit 8, Magsigay 6, Cantos 6, Layug 3, Canaynay 1, Tubiano 0.

Quarters: 18-20, 32-30, 48-48, 68-63.

Second Game

LYCEUM 84—Mbida 16, Zamora 13, Malabanan 13, Taladua 10, Gabayni 10, Bulawan 9, Maconocido 8, Lesmoras 3, Baltazar 2, Elmejrab 0.

JRU 80—Paniamogan 24, Mabulac 20, Abdul Wahab 10, Bernabe 9, Grospe 8, Asuncion 6, Lasquety 3, Sanchez 0, Manuel 0, Benavides 0.

Quarters: 20-21, 43-41, 65-56, 75-75 (reg), 84-80