Lyceum’s Renzo Navarro. Photo from Filoil
MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum held off a gutsy San Sebastian side, 75-64, to secure a quarterfinals slot in Group B of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
After being rattled in the third quarter, the Pirates overcame a shaky third quarter thanks to their veterans, who helped keep the Stags at bay in the final frame.
“We went back to our veterans because they are more composed [in the clutch]. The team got overwhelmed in the third, they wanted to execute but they were doing too much, sharing too much even when we got a shot so we just went back to our comfort zone,” said Lyceum assistant coach Patrick Melencio, who 5-1 said after the game.
Lyceum uncorked seven unanswered points after San Sebastian pulled to within two in the fourth.
Renzo Navarro paced the Pirates with 13 points while Maverick Venoya added 12.
The Stags got off to a slow start but got going in the third quarter to take the lead, 53-52, before the Pirates regrouped and regained control of the game.
Lyceum had a strong defensive showing that had San Sebastian shooting only 23.6 percent from the field.
The Pirates, who climbed to 5-1, are the third team to clinch a quarterfinals berth, after National University and De La Salle University.
Milo Janao scored 18 points in a losing effort for San Sebastian.