MANILA, Philippines – There was no derailing a hot-shooting Andrian Celada as Arellano fended off a slumping Lyceum, 89-77, Friday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Celada blistered from downtown and nailed six three pointers for an impressive 29-point finish, buoying up the Chiefs to their fifth victory in 10 starts, and just a game behind the Pirates.
Arellano turned to its steady shooting from beyond the arc when repulsing Lyceum, which tried to storm back in the game midway the third quarter and struck anew early in the fourth quarter.
But Celada drained his last trey for the night with seven minutes to play, which Kim Pagayunan followed up with one of his own to swing the lead back to double, 72-61.
PBA draftee Jerald Lapuz virtually sealed off Lyceum for good with a trey with 2:45 to play, which preserve the double digit lead of the Chiefs until the time wound down.
The Pirates, who once held the coveted fourth spot but now are in the bottom part of the standings, spent the rest of the payoff period trying to chip away the deficit, to no avail.
Lyceum, who missed the services of Allan Santos due to suspension for disciplinary reasons, stretched its losing slide to four for a 4-9 card.