Jean Nguidjol carries the Pirates past undermanned Generals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Lyceum gunned down a depleted Emilio Aguinaldo College, 59-45, to notch its fourth win in the NCAA Season 91 Seniors’ Basketball Tournament Thursday at San Juan Arena.
Victor Nguidjol asserted himself in the paint finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks as the Pirates played without Raymund Pascua, Sydney Onwubere, and Rico Diego who are all serving suspensions following their off-court scuffle against players from University of Perpetual Help.
READ: Suspension of Perpetual, EAC players extended for off-court brawl
Pirates head coach Topex Robinson told his players to honor the game of basketball as they faced the nine-man EAC squad.
“I just told them to honor the game,” Robinson said. “To honor the game means not to showboat, not to be flashy, just respect the game we love.”
“We will always do it the right way.”
EAC looked to have another player scraped off their roster when Jefferson Mallari was ejected from the game at the 8:38 mark of the third when he was called for second motion on Nguidjol.
READ: On-court brawl between EAC, Perpetual spills into parking lot
Lyceum now holds a 4-12 record, far from the Final Four race, but Robinson said there’s still a lot left in the season.
“We’re big picture thinkers, as much as we want to cry our season there’s a lot of basketball to be learned and to be played,” Robinson said.
Francis Munsayac had 11 points for the Generals while Laminou Hamadou and Christ Mejos added 10 points apiece.
EAC is at the bottom of the 10-team standing at 2-14.