NCAA: Lyceum cruises past Perpetual Help

MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum led wire to wire en route to an 84-67 shocker over Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 89 men’s basketball tournament Monday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Pirates, who kept its flickering hopes for a Final Four slot going, raced to an early 23-7 lead and never looked back as they dealt a huge blow on the Altas’ twice-to-beat target.

Mark Francisco led Lyceum, which shot 55 percent from the field at halftime while holding Perpetual Help to just 24 percent, with 18 points, in the first half where the Pirates were comfortably ahead by 30, 53-23.

Perpetual Help, which fell to one and a half games behind second-running Letran at 11-5, got 16 points from Earl Thompson but no other player scored in double-digit, with Nosa Omorogbe and Harold Arboleda finishing with just nine apiece.

The Altas reeled to their second consecutive setback after their comeback from 21 points down fell short in a 76-78 overtime loss to defending champion San Beda last Thursday.