Lyceum Pirates return to NCAA Finals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The Final Four looked to be a mere formality for Lyceum as it handily defeated Letran, 109-85, to book return trip to the finals of NCAA Season 94 men’s basketball tournament Friday at Filoil Flying V Center.
Last year’s runners-up were merciless in the second half, blowing the game wide open after leading by just 51-47 at the half.
The Pirates went on a 15-0 run to establish a 70-56 lead in the third in response to Nico Galvelo’s three that gave Letran a 56-55 buffer.
But that was just the beginning of the Knights’ misery.
Lyceum built a 30-point lead, 98-68, with 6:23 left after Enoch Valdez found the cutting CJ Perez for the layup, putting the game beyond reach.
Helping the Pirates was the injury to Letran point guard JP Calvo, who left the game 16 seconds into the third quarter after an accidental collision with Mike Nzesseu.
Pirates head coach Topex Robinson said he had to throw Letran off its comfort zone and one way of doing that was having Perez start from the bench.
“We had to find ways to get them out of their comfort zone and having CJ in the bench, because other teams always know CJ will start,” said Robinson. “We just stuck to our purpose and agenda.”
“The purpose is to inspire others and work together and the agenda is to win.”
Nzeusseu was Lycuem’s great stabilizer with 23 points and 17 rebounds while Perez had 19 points, five rebounds, and four steals.
Jaycee Marcelino and Spencer Pretta added 15 points apiece for the Pirates while MJ Ayaay pitched in 11 points.
Larry Muyang had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Knights while Bong Quinto filled the stat sheets with 12 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.