NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum clamped down on Mapua to tally its first win, 76-67, in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at San Juan Arena.
On cue on the defensive end, the Pirates limited the Cardinals to a measly 29.2 percent from the field.
“We know that Mapua has a good outside game so we really had to adjust on defense. Coach told us that if someone is left on defense we have to pick them up,” said Lyceum guard John Barba.
Up by just one, the Pirates closed the third quarter strong to take a 59-49 lead.
Barba finished the game with 16 points while Claude Guadaña had 13 for Lyceum (1-1), which redeemed itself after absorbing an 86-69 loss to College of St. Benilde last Sunday.
Mapua, last season’s losing finalist, had a hard time shaking off Lyceum’s defense as it turned the ball over 20 times.
Paolo Hernandez paced the Cardinals, who beat San Beda in the opener last Sunday, with 16 points while Toby Agustin and Warren Bonifacio had 12 each.