The Lyceum of the Philippines University brought destruction over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym in Ermita as they stomped the Generals in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament, 97-93, Thursday.
Despite the ejection of Pirates Coach Topex Robinson in the second quarter due to two technical fouls, Lyceum was able to maintain their focus and stood their ground against the Generals and led by as much as seven points in the final frame, 91-84, four minutes remaining.
The Generals tried to turn the game around at their home court as Juju Bautista kept his squad boosted and Rustan Bugarin made a crucial stab with 54.4 seconds remaining in the game. Bugarin also blocked a CJ Perez basket much later in the game.
However, EAC could not keep up with the Pirates much longer as Jaycee Marcelino capped off the match with a dagger layup.
With the tight game against the Generals, Assistant Coach Jeff Perlas said that it was a game that they needed so that the players would all stay grounded, despite their clean record of 7-0 slate in the team standings.
Marcelino led the squad with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals along with Perez who topped his three rebounds and five assists with another 20 points.
Mike Nzeusseu had a double-double record of 17 points and 19 rebounds.
On the other hand, EAC Generals had a hard time with the game, considering the loss of Cameroonian big man Hamadou Laminou, after tearing his ACL on his right knee, which crushed his and his teammates’ hopes of playing again in the season.
Francis Munsayac recorded his career-high 26 points, two rebounds and four assists, while Jerome Garcia had 19 points and five rebounds.
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