Pirates, guest team, surprise solo leader

LOOK who’s on top of the NCAA seniors basketball tournament heap–and at the expense of host University of Perpetual Help at that.

The Lyceum Pirates, the only guest team in the 10-team cast, survived early jitters and a 1-14 first-quarter deficit to rally past the Altas 93-87 yesterday for their second straight win and the lead in the 87th season at the Arena in San Juan.

"Maybe our schedule has been a blessing," said Lyceum coach Bonnie Tan, whose charges rallied with a 31-point explosion in the third quarter.

The win came on the heels of the Pirates’ equally surprising 75-63 conquest of College of St. Benilde in their opening match last Monday.

In the other seniors’ game, Arellano University outplayed Jose Rizal University 79-75 in overtime as the Chiefs picked up their first win in two games while dealing the Heavy Bombers their second straight loss.

The Altas, who trailed 63-75 entering the last quarter after Lyceum’s surge in the third, managed to narrow the gap to 87-91 with 1:28 to go but was limited to just one basket the rest of the way and absorbed their second straight defeat.

"We expected Perpetual to come out fighting after losing its first game, especially against a guest team like us," said Tan, referring to the host team’s 52-82 shellacking at the hands of defending champion San Beda in Saturday’s opener.

"After falling behind 1-14 early in the first quarter I told my boys the game was not yet over, that we still had three quarters to go, and they responded," he added.

Tan, however, was realistic enough to admit that beating the Red Lions in their next assignment on Monday would be tough.

"If my boys were pressured against Perpetual, imagine how it will be like against San Beda," he said.

He noted the 11-26 disparity in offensive rebounds against the Altas that enabled the wards of coach Jimwell Gican to mount their own comeback "so that has to be addressed."

Doing Perpetual in was its woeful 37 percent field goal shooting, with the Altas missing 52 of 83 tries in contrast to Lyceum’s 45 percent norm (30-66).

Guard Chris Cayabyab paced Lyceum with 17 points while Floricel Guevarra and Allan Santos chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Jet Vidal led the Altas with 17 points, followed by Anthony Paulino and Justine Alano with 13 points apiece.

The Junior Pirates earlier picked up their first win by prevailing over the Altalettes 45-42 in the juniors division.

Bong Pedralvez, Business Malaya Insight