By Kevin Estrada
Lyceum relied on their bench to secure a close 64-62 victory over Perpetual Help in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Wednesday at the FilOil-EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Following a heartbreaking loss to Emilio Aguinaldo last Sunday, the Pirates’ second unit led by Renz Villegas, Jonathan Daileg, and Neil Joshua Moralejo spearheaded their comeback.
Daileg scored eight of his 10 points to trim down the Atlas’ lead to two, 58-60, from a nine-point deficit, 49-58, in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter
Moralejo then sealed the comeback by banking a game-winning three-pointer from the top of the key with 5.4 seconds left.
Villegas who confidently filled in for the injured Mclaude Guadaña, made one of his two free throws to finalize the score.
He led the Intramuros-based squad with 18 points and 7 steals.
Overall, the said trio combined for 36 of Lyceum’s 45 bench points against Perpetual with 19.
Mark Gojo Cruz top scored the Atlas with 14 points.
Lyceum climbed to a share of fifth place together with Perpetual with identical 4-4 records.
The scores:
LYCEUM 64 – Villegas 18, Daileg 10, Barba 8, Moralejo 8, Panelo 6, Aviles 5, Gordon 3, Peñafiel 2, Cunanan 2, Montaño 2, Pallingayan 0, Caduyac 0, Culanay 0
PERPETUAL HELP 62 – Gojo Cruz 14, Orgo 13, Abis 10, Pizarro 8, Pagaran 4, Manuel 3, Boral 2, Nuñez 2, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 2, Sevilla 2
Quarter scores: 13-19, 27-32, 43-48, 64-62
