Pirates hold off Generals

LYCEUM’S Guy Mbida (left) and Cris Pamulaklakin apply the umbrella coverage on a driving Sidney Onwubere of Emilio Aguinaldo College in yesterday’s featured NCAA game at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The resurgent Pirates thwarted the General’s fourth-quarter offensive to clinch their fourth victory in six outings. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

WILSON Baltazar and Dexter Zamora joined forces down the stretch and powered Lyceum past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 73-67, last night for its third straight win in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Struggling to find his range in the first five games, Baltazar struck hardest in the last quarter with nine of his game-high 20 points, before Zamora buried a floater to shatter a 67-all deadlock with 27 seconds remaining, then knocked in a split off an unsportsmanlike foul as the Pirates climbed to solo fourth with a 4-2 card.

Baltazar capped his heroics with a putback that tied the game with a minute remaining, setting the stage for Zamora to finish off the Generals who absorbed a fourth straight defeat and fell to 1-4.

Joseph Gabayni again delivered a strong outing with 14 points and 11 boards for the Pirates, who are off to their best start since joining the league five years ago.

“We’re at this position because we’re playing tough,” said Lyceum coach Bonnie Tan, whose Pirates closed the game on an 8-0 run.

Earlier, Mark Romero exploded for a career-high 26 points as St. Benilde held off Mapua, 79-72, to improve to 2-3.

The Blazers nearly wasted a 18-point lead in the second half before regrouping thanks to Romero, whose triple pushed the lead to 78-72 with 43 seconds left.

“These guys are making a statement that we’re heartbreak kids no more,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco.

The loss extended the Cardinals’ woeful start under Atoy Co to 0-6.

The Cardinals actually opened the fourth period with an 11-0 blitz to forge ahead, 65-64, with 5:13 remaining.

But Jonathan Grey and Mark Romero knocked in back-to-back baskets to restore order for the Blazers, 67-64.

“We just didn’t panic in the end, that was the key,” said Romero

Grey chipped in 17 points on top of six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block for the Blazers who raised their record to 2-3.

The scores:
First Game
ST. BENILDE 79—Romero 26, Grey 17, Sinco 8, Taha 8, Bartolo 8, Argamino 5, Jonson 3, Mercado 3, Ongteco 1, Nayve 0, Deles 0, Altamirano 0.
MAPUA 72—Gabo 16, Isit 14, Saitanan 14, Eriobu 13, Estrella 8, Biteng 2, Layug 2, Cantos 2, Villasenor 1.
Quarters: 23-17, 39-31, 61-50, 79-72
Second Game
LYCEUM 73—Baltazar 20, Zamora 15, Gabayni 14, Mbida 8, Bulawan 8, Maconocido 4, Malabanan 2, Taladua 2, Pamulaklakin 0, Soliman 0, Lesmoras 0, Elmejrab 0.
EAC 67—Happi 18, Tayongtong 13, Arquero 10, Aguilar 7, King 7, Serrano 6, Onwubere 5, Jamon 3, Santos 0, Mejos 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 11-19, 35-35, 49-55, 73-67