Lyceum of the Philippines University needed a late-game run to survive San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 83-72, and keep its record untainted in the NCAA Season 99 on Tuesday.
Streaking LPU cruised to its fourth win in a row while San Sebastian dropped to 1-2 in the team standings.
The Stags proved to be a threat to the Pirates' unblemished record, turning a 43-35 halftime deficit to a 55-52 lead early in the third following a Michael Are triple.
But LPU's usual suspects John Barba and JM Bravo did just enough to keep Lyceum still in the lead at the end of the third, 65-62.
That lead went up again to six, 74-68, after Bravo knocked one down from downtown before Stags vets Jessie Sumoda and Romel Calahat drilled back-to-back baskets to make it a 74-72 affair.
But Shawn Umali completed a three-point play and that was followed by a fastbreak layup from Barba to send the Pirates to a pivotal 79-63 cushion with 1:40 remaining in the contest.
Read more | Shawn Umali earns NCAA Player of the Week honors as Lyceum off to 3-0 start
Umali then sank two freebies to put the finishing kick for the surging Pirates.Barba starred for Lyceum with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal while Umali stuffed the stat sheet with 14 markers, eight boards, four dimes, three steals, and four blocks.
Bravo and Mclaude Guadaña stepped up as well with 10 markers apiece.
LPU team captain Enoch Valdez, however, misfired from the field, shooting just 2-of-14 (14.3-percent). Despite his offensive struggles, he finished with nine rebounds and three assists to go with his seven points.
Are scored 15 points to lead San Sebastian, while Reggz Gabat chipped in with 13 markers.
Lyceum now has wins over College of Saint Benilde, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, and San Sebastian en route to a 4-0 record.
The scores:
LPU 83 - Barba 20, Umali 14, Guadana 10, Bravo 10, Valdez 7, Montano 7, Villegas 4, Penafiel 4, Cunanan 3, Omandac 2, Versoza 2, Aviles 0, Moralejo 0.
San Sebastian 72 - Are 15, Gabat 13, Desoyo 11, Sumoda 9, Calahat 7, Shanoda 6, Escobido 4, Una 3, Felebrico 2, De Leon 2, Aguilar 0, Castor 0.
Quarters: 22-21, 43-35, 65-62, 83-72.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
