Lyceum of the Philippines University booked its breakthrough win in the NCAA Season 98 after pulling off a 76-67 upset of Mapua University on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Lyceum bounced back from a previous loss to College of Saint Benilde to improve to 1-1 while Season 97 runner-up Mapua dropped to an identical card.
Ato Barba led the way for Lyceum with 16 points on 6-for-8 (75-percent) field goal shooting while Mclaude Guadaña added 13 markers, 11 of them in the second half, and three steals.
Lyceum got its offense going in the first half with Barba piloting their attack with nine points as they held a 39-33 halftime cushion.
Mapua skipper Warren Bonifacio was already close to the double-double mark at the half as the big man churned out eight points and eight rebounds with still two quarters to go. He also led the Cardinals effort on the boards, as Mapua outrebounded, Lyceum 26-19.
But the Pirates' offense continued to hum and they took a 13-point lead late in the third, 59-46, before Toby Agustin fired a long bomb to bring the Cardinals' deficit down to just 10 heading to the fourth, 59-49.
Guadaña then took over down the stretch as the sophomore team captain knocked down a triple for a much-needed 72-59 cushion with 2:50 left in the game.
Paolo Hernandez led Mapua with 16 points and nine rebounds while Bonifacio finished with 12 points and 12 boards.
Lyceum plunges into action anew on Saturday against San Beda University while Mapua goes against San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Sunday.
—JMB, GMA News
