MANILA, Philippines–Mike Harry Nzeusseu is a certified workhorse that College of St. Benilde found hard to match.
Patrolling the paint with his beefy frame, Nzeusseu gave the Lyceum Pirates the needed stability for them to outlast the Blazers, 85-83, in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament Friday.
Nzeusseu was an imposing presence in the lane with 10 points and 14 rebounds that picked apart CSB’s frontline and opened a wide door of opportunities for speedy guards JC and Jayvee Marcelino to carry out what they do best.
The Marcelino twins combined for 28 points, 14 rebounds and five steals, most of them done in a whirlwind second half as the Pirates went on to notch their ninth victory in 12 games overall.
Several bad decisions and miscues actually accelerated the downfall of the Blazers, who now lost five of their last six games for a 6-5 record after committing 20 turnovers.
Prince Carlos and Justin Gutang kept the Blazers within winning distance late in the final frame, but those errors hurt them so much that it worked to the Pirates’ advantage.
LPU 85—Jc. Marcelino 22, Nzeusseu 14, Ibanez 11, David 9, Jv. Marcelino 6, Tansingco 6, Caduyac 5, Navarro 5, Santos 5, Yong 2, Guinto 0, Valdez 0.
CSB 83—Naboa 15, Belgica 12, Gutang 12, Nayve 10, Carlos 9, Young 9, Flores 4, Haruna 4, Dixon 3, Leutcheu 3, Lim 2, Lepalam 0.
Quarters: 16-14, 39-41, 69-66, 85-83