Lyceum outlasts San Beda in 2OT, seals 18-0 sweep of NCAA elims

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

How sweep it is!

Lyceum gutted out a thrilling 107-105 double overtime victory over San Beda to complete an 18-0 sweep and take the top seed in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament Thursday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

After their unprecedented run in the elimination round, the Pirates will now advance to the best-of-three Finals, where they will face the last team standing in the stepladder semis.

“They just don’t wanna give up,” said coach Topex Robinson. “Credit goes to the coaches also, they are working extra hard. It’s really about being together, we always talk about together is better. It’s just a testament of really working together as a solid group, you can really change a lot. I’m so blessed I’m surrounded with the right people. These guys really get the credit, it’s not mine.”

Mike Nzeusseu towered over the competition with 27 points, 21 rebounds, and two blocks, but his contributions go farther than the stat sheets as his endgame heroics saved Lyceum in the clutch.

The Cameroonian big man drilled the go-ahead freebies with 12.7 seconds to play, 106-105, in the second overtime period before getting the job done on the defensive end as he intimidated Robert Bolick’s attempt in the waning seconds.

Leading MVP candidate CJ Perez fired 20 markers, six boards, six assists, and four steals, and nailed the game-sealing free throw with 1.9 ticks to go.

Robinson, though, would like his wards to keep their feet on the ground as they now progress to the championship round.

“It’s still a long way to go. There’s so much things that we have to work on, and we always have to stay humble and be grateful for everything that’s been given to us. It’s a testament to how the character of this team is, and hopefully we are inspiring others in the way we play,” he said.

With the game tied at 85 in the closely contested fourth period, both Lyceum and San Beda traded misses in the last two minutes including Franz Abuda’s botched potential game-winning jumper.

In the overtime period, Pirates were 3.4 seconds away from the win after Perez’ drive. But the referees called a head-shaking foul on Jaycee Marcelino as he defended Bolick’s desperation heave with 1.5 seconds remaining. Bolick split his freebies to send the game to double overtime at 97-all.

However, Lyceum showed its poise in the second overtime period as they bucked the graduation of integral cogs Jayvee Marcelino and Reymar Caduyac and went to Nzeusseu and Perez to salvage the game.

Jaycee Marcelino fired nine points, nine rebounds, three dimes, and three steals, while Caduyac also had nine markers, three boards, and two assists in the victory.

Donald Tankoua fired a career-high 34 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks for San Beda, before fouling out late in the first overtime.

Bolick also unloaded 16 markers, but shot 4-of-17 from the field, to go with his five assists and two boards.

Javee Mocon flirted with a triple-double with his 14 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, as the Red Lions saw their 15-game winning streak snapped. They remained in second place with their 16-2 card.

The Scores:

LYCEUM 107 – Nzeusseu 27, Perez 20, Jc. Marcelino 9, Caduyac 9, Pretta 8, Santos 8, Ayaay 7, Baltazar 6, Serrano 6, Jv. Marcelino 4, Ibanez 1.
SAN BEDA 105 – Tankoua 34, Bolick 16, Mocon 14, Doliguez 13, Abuda 8, Presbitero 6, Soberano 5, Noah 4, Oftana 3, Cabanag 2, Potts 0, Bahio 0, Adamos 0.

Quarters: 25-22, 56-46, 70-69, 85-85, 97-97, 107-105.