Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum leaned on the Marcelino twins Jaycee and Jayvee to edge Letran, 84-80, at the start of the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Jaycee led all scorers with 24 points that went with six rebounds. five assists and three steals while Jayvee added 18 points and six rebounds to power the Pirates, who got the post-CJ Perez and MJ Ayaay era going with an impressive win.
“We’re honoring CJ and Ayaay for bringing us to where we are right now and we’re also building our own legacy with the guys that we have right now, said Lyceum coach Topex Robinson.
The twins scored eight apiece in the fourth quarter with Jaycee delivering the go-ahead three-point play, 80-77, with 1:22 left and Jayvee providing Lyceum’s final four points inside the final minute to hold off Letran.
“That’s really something a sight to behold. I wish they (Marcelinos) still have five more years for us at LPU. The energy that they bring to the team is really something super, super magical,” Robinson marveled.
Jerrick Balanza, who played only nine games last year after his season was cut short due to a brain tumor, led the Knights with 19 points, 16 of which coming in the second half. He also had four rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The Pirates missed the services of Cameroonian big man Mike Nzeusseu, who is recovering from a fractured index finger he suffered during the preseason.