NEXT MAN CUP: Lyceum scrapes past UP for an upset debut win

Lyceum caused a shake-up in the Pinoyliga Next Man Cup, taking down a fancied UP side with a 78-73 win to close out the January 15 doubleheaders at the Activate Hoop Arena.

The combined braintrust of Gilbert Malabanan and Chester Tolomia were instrumental for LPU’s opening win, as the former Perpetual Help teammates gave the players such as CJ Saure and Jea Omandac confidence against the more fancied names from State U’s reserves such as Ernest Felicilda and Reyland Torres.

Saure had 15 points on a 60% shooting for LPU, and added 6 boards in almost 24 minutes of playing time, while Omandac backstopped him with 10.

After trailing for the entire first-half, a huge third quarter became the turning point for the Pirates’ second squad, as it held their nerve for their first win at the Fighting Maroons’ expense. LPU outscored them 24-10, Jonathan Daileg hitting seven of his nine points there and Saure added six.

Mark Belmonte’s double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds nearly kept him afloat, with the big man hitting nine markers in the final canto as they inched to within a bucket, but Raphael Garro doused their comeback try with a mid-ranged jumper to give them a 76-72 buffer with 26.2 seconds to go.

The scores:

LYCEUM 78 – Saure 15, Omandac 10, Moralejo 9, Daileg 9, Aviles 8, Alattica 7, Garro 5, Versoza 4, Panganiban 3, Caduyac 3, Bayquin 2, Malabanan 2, Dela Cruz 1, Renon 0, Ollesca 0, Garing 0, Dejelo 0

UP 73 – Belmonte 18, Felicilda 15, Galotera 13, Torres 8, Canillas 7, Shah 3, Singson 3, Tan 2, Avinado 2, Gregorio 2

Quarter scores: 18-20, 38-42, 62-52, 78-73