NCAA: San Beda sends Lyceum to play-ins

MANILA — San Beda University sent Lyceum to the play-in phase of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament after claiming a 71-65 win on Thursday at the San Juan Arena.

The Red Lions sent the Pirates crashing to a 4-8 record, essentially sealing their spot as Group A’s fifth seed.

San Beda, meanwhile, figured in a two-way tie for the pool’s top seed with Jose Rizal University. They both hold identical 9-3 cards.

Dan Marcelo paced San Beda to the win with 22 points, six assists and four steals.

“The game is all about possessions. They had their runs, we had ours but it was all about sticking together for us to get this W,” he said. “We had a sluggish first half so we just had to step up. We were able to facilitate and get open shots while doing the little things that our team needed.”

San Beda held a comfortable 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter, 65-54, before Lyceum turned to Khen Caduyac for a personal 6-0 run to cut the Pirates’ deficit to five, 65-60, with 2:42 to go.

Marcelo took matters into his own hands to halt the Pirates’ run with a midrange jumper to put the Lions up, 67-60, with 2:24 remaining.

Lyceum was able to creep closer with a 5-0 spurt capped off by a Mac Guadaña triple that cut their deficit at 67-65 but freebies from Zedjay Etulle, Andrei Ugaddan and Kyle Jamora essentially put the game out of reach.

Aldous Torculas finished just a rebound shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine boards. Bismarck Lina had nine markers and 14 rebounds in the win.

Matthew Rubico’s double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds went down the drain. Jonathan Daileg also had 11 in a losing effort.

SBU 71 – Marcelo 22, Torculas 17, Lina 9, Puno 8, Jamora 4, Etulle 4, Ugaddan 3, Calimag 3, Sarigumba 1, Reyes 0, Estacio 0, Jalbuena 0, Efron 0, Hawkins 0, Bonzalida 0

LPU 65 – Rubico 14, Daileg 11, Guadana 9, Ondoa 7, Caduyac 6, Villegas 6, Matienzo 4, Fuentes 3, Penafiel 3, Manuel 2, Aurigue 0, Panelo 0, Pallingayan 0, Cardinas 0, Nocum 0

Quarter scores: 20-9, 31-33, 53-47, 71-65