Lyceum Pirates rejoice their return to the Remaining 4 after beating St. Benilde Blazers within the NCAA Season 100 males’s basketball event. –NCAA PHOTO
The Lyceum Pirates survived their final impediment by downing the St. Benilde Blazers for a faster route again to the Remaining 4.
However coach Gilbert Malabanan is aware of for a reality they can not advance to the championship with inconsistent play.
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“We must always positively polish our protection going into the Remaining 4. It was clear once we led by 16 factors and squandered it,’’ mentioned Malabanan after the Pirates surprised the Blazers, 82-81, on Friday within the NCAA Season 100 males’s basketball event at FilOil EcoOil Centre.
In management within the center two quarters, the Pirates noticed their benefit whittle down because the Blazers relentlessly fought again within the fourth.
“It was dangerous protection and miscommunication,” Malabanan mentioned. “When that occurs, confusion takes over. We actually need to work on this.”
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The Pirates, who closed out eliminations with a 10-8 file, accomplished the semifinal solid with the Blazers, who absorbed a second straight defeat and fell to 14-4 to be at No. 2 because the Mapua Cardinals (14-3) will stake top-ranking once they play ousted Arellano on Saturday.
The reigning champions San Beda Purple Lions (10-7) are at No. 3 and will wind up because the Blazers’ Remaining 4 foes if the Playing cards win over the Chiefs. In that situation, Mapua can have a twice-to-beat benefit over the Pirates.
An upset by Arellano, although, will give the Blazers No. 1 rating since Benilde will win a tiebreak with Mapua in case they tie.
Sport-saving gem
Greg Cunanan foiled a possible game-winner by Gab Cometa because the Pirates made the semifinals for the third straight 12 months.
Cometa pulled up close to the paint with two seconds remaining, however Cunanan hurriedly swatted the shot earlier than the Lyceum trustworthy cheered and the Pirates celebrated wildly on the ground.
Ato Barba exploded for 27 factors, together with going 5-of-5 from past the three-point arc, however the applause wasn’t completely his following the crunch time heroics of Renz Villegas and Cunanan.
Engaged in a nail-biter with CSB, the cat-quick Villegas thwarted the Blazers from seizing management with a floater, a pair of free throws and a vital layup off a Jhomel Ancheta passing error with 13.2 seconds left.
Liwag powered his approach on the opposite finish and bought a foul on a doable three-point play, however flubbed the game-tying free throw.
After Cunanan foiled Cometa’s jumper, the Blazers had another alternative to increase the match with a fraction of a second left, solely to falter after Liwag’s desperation try on the buzzer fell quick.
“All my gamers are prepared any time I put them on the courtroom,’’ mentioned Malabanan, whose victory extinguished the hopes of the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals to safe a historic Remaining 4 exhibiting.
King Gurtiza fired 18 factors and Harvey Pagsanjan added 17 because the Generals defused the Jose Rizal College Heavy Bombers, 73-66, of their last sport of the season.
The Generals, with 5 graduating gamers led by Gurtiza and Pagsanjan, capped their season with a 9-9 file whereas sending the Heavy Bombers to final place at 4-14.
