NCAA 100: Lyceum escapes Benilde to secure Final Four return

Lyceum Pirates celebrate their return to the Final Four after beating St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament. –NCAA PHOTO

The Lyceum Pirates are back in the Final Four.

Greg Cunanan foiled a potential game-winner by the College of St. Benilde Blazers as the Pirates returned to the semifinals by pulling off a thrilling escape act, 82-81, on Friday in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.

Gab Cometa pulled up near the paint with two seconds remaining, but Cunanan hurriedly swatted the shot and the Pirates went on the secure the win, their 10th overall that stretched Lyceum’s post-elimination round bid.

READ: NCAA 100: Jonathan Daileg ends slump to help Lyceum past EAC

“I’m very proud and happy with our performance. Credit to my players for the great effort and the coaches for their excellent scouting. Everybody did their part,’’ said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan.

Ato Barba exploded for 27 points, including going five of five from beyond the three-point arc, but the applause weren’t entirely his following the crunch time heroics by Renz Villegas and Cunanan.

Engaged in a nail-biter with CSB, the cat-quick Villegas thwarted the Blazers from seizing control with a floater, a pair of free throws and a crucial layup off a Jhomel Ancheta passing error with 13.2 seconds left.

READ: NCAA Season 100: John Barba steers Lyceum past JRU

Liwag powered his way on the other end and got a foul on a possible three-point play, but flubbed the game-tying free throw.

After Cunanan foiled Cometa’s jumper, the Blazers had one more opportunity to extend the match with a fraction of a second left only to falter after Liwag’s desperation attempt at the buzzer fell short.

“All my players are ready any time I put them on the court. In the Final Four, we have to improve defensively,’’ said Malabanan, whose victory extinguished the hopes of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals to secure a historic Final Four showing.

The Pirates completed the semifinal cast with the Blazers, who absorbed a second straight defeat and fell to 14-4, along with the Mapua Cardinals (14-3) and reigning champions San Beda Red Lions (10-7).

Secured of a valuable twice-to-beat bonus with the Blazers in the Final Four, the Cardinals could seal the No. 1 spot by ending the elimination phase with a win over the Arellano Chiefs on Saturday.

A defeat at the hands of the Chiefs, however, will install the Blazers on top.

The Scores

LYCEUM 82 – Barba 27, Bravo 12, Villegas 11, Guadaña 11, Daileg 11, Versoza 4, Aviles 4, Montaño 2, Cunanan 0, Panelo 0

ST. BENILDE 81 – Liwag 20, Ancheta 18, Sanchez 11, Cometa 9, Ynot 7, Sangco 6, Morales 4, Torres 3, Jarque 2, Eusebio 1, Oli 0, Ondoa 0, Cajucom 0

Quarter scores: 26-17, 46-42, 65-62, 82-81