(UPDATE) LYCEUM of the Philippines University mustered all courage and kept its composure in the fourth quarter to prevail over Jose Rizal University (JRU), 97-92, to take its first win in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Sunday.
John Barba made a career-high performance of 28 points and was the go-to guy of the Pirates in the final canto to escape the Heavy Bombers.
Down by 13 points early in the fourth quarter, the Pirates used a 7-0 rally in the last four minutes of the match, capped by Mclaude Guadaña’s hustle play as he penetrated the rim for the layup, 85-83.
Shawn Argente answered back with a triple, 88-83, that was quickly extinguished by John Barba, who answered back with a trey of his own, followed by Greg Cunanan’s layup after forcing JRU to convert a turnover, 88-88.
John Medina rushed to the rim to give the Heavy Bombers the lead once again, but Cunanan used his upper body strength to respond quickly and tie the match at 90-all in the last two minutes of the match.
Joshua Guiab muscled a layup, but Barba completed his charities to send the match to its eight deadlock.
With under a minute remaining, Barba fired a triple from way downtown, 95-92, to give the Pirates the crucial lead.
The Heavy Bombers fouled to extend the clock, however, the Pirates got away and scored their first ever win in the season.
Cunanan and Guadaña scored 20 and 17 points, apiece for Lyceum.
While JRU’s Medina scored a career-high of 22 points that went down the drain. Team captain Guiab and Argente added 20 and 11 markers, respectively.
Lyceum now holds a 1-2 win-loss card, while JRU is still winless (0-3).