NCAA Season 99: League leaders Lyceum, Mapua pick up wins

Lyceum’s Enoch Valdez blows past his defender during a game against Letran.-NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum won its fourth straight game at the expense of Letran, 85-79, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Sunday.

Fresh off a down-the-wire victory over fellow league-leader Mapua on Friday, the Pirates improved their record to 10-3.

Enoch Valdez and Mac Guadaña turned in 18-point performances for Lyceum while JM Bravo also helped the cause with 17 points and four rebounds.

Deo Cuajao topscored with 24 points built on six triples while Kobe Monje finished with 20 but the also-ran Knights still dropped to 1-12.

Mapua also won, beating San Sebastian, 70-63, to maintain its tie with Lyceum at No. 1.

Warren Bonifacio fell a rebound shy of a double-double of 15 points and nine boards while Marc Cuenco and Jopet Soriano finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively in the victory.

Romel Calahat registered a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort that saw the Golden Stags drop to 4-9.

San Beda’s Jacob Cortez goes for a shot against EAC.-NCAA PHOTO

After absorbing back-to-back losses, San Beda got back in the win column with an 81-71 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College.

The Red Lions drew balanced scoring with five players hitting double digits led by Jacob Cortez and James Payosing with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Jomel Puno also notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to push San Beda to 8-4.

Nat Cosejo’s 18-point explosion and Ralph Robin’s 14 went for naught as the Generals dropped to a 7-6 record.