Lyceum weathered Emilio Aguinaldo College’s fiery comeback bid for the 106-97 victory in the NCAA Season 94 men’s basketball tournament Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Pirates held a 72-41 lead early in the third quarter but the Generals showed off their brass and mounted a 36-8 run in just six minutes to cut the lead to three, 80-77, heading into the fourth.
Jaycee Marcelino, though, willed the Pirates back at the start of the fourth hitting a three-pointer for the 86-79 lead.
And despite losing Mike Nzeusseu to fouls at the 7:19 mark of the fourth, Marcelino was once again crucial for Lyceum giving the Pirates a 93-83 lead off a scoop layup with 6:36 left in the game.
“As a coach, sometimes you have to bite your lip and trust your players that they will find a way,” said Pirates head coach Topex Robinson as his team improved to 2-0. “You have to be really calm and collected so the players don’t sense that you’re worried.”
And as the Pirates regained momentum in the fourth, the Generals subsequently flustered.
EAC center Hamadou Laminou fouled out with 4:30 remaining after getting called with a technical foul for taunting CJ Perez.
Marcelino, who led the Pirates with 24 points, eight rebounds, and five steals, converted on the technical free throw for Lyceum’s 98-86 lead.
Perez had 20 points, five boards, and six steals for the Pirates while Ralph Tansingco and Jayvee Marcelino combined for 21 points.
Laminou had 34 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks before fouling out for EAC, which dropped to 0-2, while Jerome Garcia had 20 points.
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