Pirates trim Stags, fan semifinal hopes

Renz Villegas (center) connects on a floater off a San Sebastian double team. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

A constant figure in the NCAA’s Final Four the last two seasons, Lyceum is having the struggles of getting there in Season 100 even with the same coach and same hard-nosed bunch of Pirates.

“Our remaining games are crucial. We cannot afford to lose again if we want to earn that chance of playing in the Final Four again,’’ said coach Gilbert Malabanan after the Pirates got back on track with a 93-85 victory over the San Sebastian Stags on Tuesday.

Renz Villegas revitalized their bid after the Pirates lost three straight prior to this one, sparking his team’s finishing kick that drove the Stags virtually out of the semifinal picture.

Villegas set his career-high with 25 points, including a three-point play in the midst of the Stags’ endgame fightback, as the Pirates put up with No. 7 in 15 games.

“This win will bring back the confidence of our team as we make a final push,’’ said Malabanan.

Final three games

The Pirates should brace for another all-out war against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals next week before ending their second-round campaign against Final Four qualifier College of St. Benilde.

“We are aware of the challenges that we will face, so we have to treat each match as a make-or-break game,’’ said Malabanan.

Basti Valencia matched his career-high 25 points in the other game, spearheading the Arellano Chiefs’ 81-77 come-from-behind victory over the Heavy Bombers.

The Chiefs remained in the running for semifinal slot with a 6-9 record, tied with the University of Perpetual Altas, while the Heavy Bombers lost for the 11th time in 15 games, all but putting their semifinal quest in peril.

John Barba was also big at the clutch and helped quash San Sebastian’s hopes of a comeback, draining seven of his 20 points in the closing minutes as the Pirates tied the Letran Knights with identical records at fifth.

Absorbing their 11th defeat against just four wins, and with only three games remaining in their schedule, the Stags are headed toward another early exit. INQ