Lyceum of the Philippines University showed its endgame poise in picking up an 89-81 stunner over San Beda University in the NCAA Season 98 on Saturday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Gyle Patrick Montaño led LPU with 18 points while Enoch Valdez contributed 17 markers and eight rebounds in another upset win by the Pirates.
Lyceum, which is coming off an upset victory over Season 97 finalist Mapua University, improved to 2-1 while San Beda dropped to 1-2.
After trailing big earlier in the game, Mclaude Guadaña fired the game-tying triple, 81-81, before rookie Montaño buried long bomb of his own for a crucial 84-81 spread with 3:09 left.
Big man Shawn Umali then sank a huge shot off a dish from Guadaña to make it an 86-81 lead en route to the crucial victory.
San Beda held a 15-point lead in the first half, 43-28, after three free throws from James Kwekuteye but Lyceum leaned on a strong 12-5 close-out in the second period to trail by just eight at the half, 48-40.
Lyceum's bench, led by Valdez and Alvin Peñafiel, did most of the work for the Pirates in the first half as they outscored San Beda's second group, 28 to 14.
The Pirates then exploded for a huge third quarter, where they unleashed a 12-0 run to inch closer by two, 54-52, after trailing by 14 to open the frame. Rookie Renz Villegas, playing in his first NCAA game, stepped up in a big way, tallying all of his eight points and four assists in the crucial third period.
Lyceum was able to turn their deficit into a 66-65 lead to head into the final frame ahead by a thread.
Shaw Umali and Ato Barba scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, to help the Pirates' cause.
JB Bahio led San Beda with 19 points while Damie Cuntapay added 16.
The scores:
LPU 89 - Montaño 18, Valdez 17, Umali 14, Barba 12, Villegas 8, Guadaña 7, Peñafiel 6, Cunanan 4, Larupay 2, Navarro 1, Bravo 0, Omandac 0.
San Beda 81 - Bahio 19, Cuntapay 16, Kwekuteye 15, Alfaro 13, Ynot 10, Cortez 8, Sanchez 0, Andrada 0, Cometa 0, Visser 0, Jopia 0, Tagala 0, Llarena 0.
Quarters: 16-27, 48-40, 66-65, 89-81.
—JMB, GMA News
