Pirates sail to best start

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Lyceum drubbed yet another opponent as the Pirates logged a record start in the NCAA.

Finding the right motivation, the unbeaten Pirates ripped St. Benilde by 43 points, 98-55 in Season 93’s men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Pirates coasted to their fifth straight victory, the school’s best start since joining the league in 2009.

“We remembered the time they beat us last year,” said coach Topex Robinson, recalling how the Pirates were the lone team to lose to the cellar-dwelling Blazers last year.

“They were 1-17 [and that loss was] the motivation for us.”

Jaycee Marcelino starred anew in the game, firing 17 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting from the field, while Wilson Baltazar got himself going from beyond the arc for 16 points.

But it was still CJ Perez who made things work for Lyceum, dropping another all-around game with 14 points, seven assists, six boards, four steals and a block.

Letran and Perpetual Help, meanwhile, had to overcome gritty opponents to secure their second wins.

After misfiring in the first three quarters, Rey Nambatac came alive late in the game to bail out Letran against a resilient Arellano side, 82-75.

Nambatac torched the Chiefs by firing 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as the senior swingman also posted 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Nambatac broke out of his funk and paired up with Jeo Ambohot in the fourth quarter as the two gave the Knights a 72-65 lead with 3:50 left to play.

Perpetual also pulled off a great escape, fending off San Sebastian’s rally for a 68-65 victory.

GJ Ylagan drained four pressure-packed free throws in the last 14.6 seconds to finish with a team-best 15 points.

“I knew I needed to make it because if I miss, we might still lose the game. And I didn’t want to lose,” the senior forward said in Filipino.

But Ylagan’s biggest moment came with time winding down as he blocked Allyn Bulanadi’s potential game-tying trey, preserving the Altas’ second straight conquest to level their record to 2-2.

Prince Eze notched a double-double with his 12 points and 13 boards, while AJ Coronel got 10 points and four assists in the win.