Perez stars as Lyceum charges past JRU

CJ Perez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Backing up its preseason hype, Lyceum showed its relentlessness and clobbered Jose Rizal University, 96-75, Tuesday in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

CJ Perez made a rousing return to the NCAA stage as he did it all for the Pirates with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Mike Nzeusseu chipped in 13 markers and five boards while MJ Ayaay registered a double-double for himself with his 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three dimes.

Despite the victory, coach Topex Robinson kept Lyceum grounded as he zoomed in on his team’s 21 turnovers and the 16-of-24 shooting from the charity stripe.

“My biggest concern was the turnovers and our free throws, but we’ll take this win and we’ll learn from this,” he said, as he continued to preach improvement after the Pirates passed their first test.

Ayaay kickstarted the telling 10-2 run in the third quarter for the Pirates to turn a close 45-43 lead to a comfortable 55-45 advantage, before Perez took charge in the fourth quarter and blew the game wide open, with Spencer Pretta giving Lyceum its biggest lead at 30, 92-62, with 3:34 remaining.

Jed Mendoza led the Heavy Bombers with 18 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while Ervin Grospe had 15 in the losing effort.

It was a forgettable first game for Tey Teodoro, who went 2-of-9 from three and shot 5-of-13 from the field to wound up with 13 points in the defeat.

The Scores:

LYCEUM 96 – Perez 22, Nzeusseu 13, Ayaay 11, Jv. Marcelino 9, Ibanez 9, Tansingco 8, Baltazar 7, Caduyac 5, Jc. Marcelino 4, Santos 3, Pretta 3, Serrano 2, Cinco 0, Liwag 0.

JRU 75 – Mendoza 18, Grospe 15, Teodoro 13, Poutuouchi 13, Dela Virgen 4, Abdul Razak 3, Castor 3, Bordon 2, Mate 2, Sawat 2, Lasquety 0, David 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 43-37, 68-54, 96-75.