Lyceum averts disaster, escapes Arellano to stay unbeaten

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Lyceum preserved its immaculate record in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament with a 94-92 stunner over Arellano Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Pirates finished the game on a blistering 20-5 run that overhauled a 13-point disadvantage in the fourth quarter as they sealed their 12th win in as many games.

Down 87-74, Lyceum went on a 14-0 run capped off by a bucket from CJ Perez to regain the lead, 88-87, with a little over two minutes to go.

“Hopefully it’s a challenge or a wake up call for us that we have to keep on playing until the final buzzer sounds,” said Pirates head coach Topex Robinson of the close call. “It’s going to be hard along the way but hopefully this game would turn us really into a great team.”

The Chiefs retaliated to get back on top, 91-88, but that was the last they would get the lead as the Pirates took over for good with 7.4 seconds left.

Kent Salado still had the chance to tie the game but he missed one of his free throws with 6.5 ticks left.

Arellano slipped to 4-7, making its battle for a Final Four spot even tougher.