LPU’s Renz Villegas (right) against San Sebastian’s Clarence Cruz (left). Photo from NCAA Philippines.

MANILA — Lyceum of the Philippines University imposed its might over San Sebastian College-Recoletos to not only end its three-game losing skid, but also improve its chances of entering the Final 4 of the NCAA Season 100 basketball tournament.

Renz Villegas tallied his career-best to help the Pirates thwart the Golden Stags, 93-85, in their Round 2 faceoff, Tuesday afternoon at the San Juan Arena.

The 5-foot-8 guard paced his team with 25 points, three assists, two steals, and a rebound to help his squad improve to 7-8, while also doing wonders for the Gilbert Malabanan-mentored squad was John Barba who had 20 markers, three boards, three dimes, and a steal.

Lyceum is now tied with Colegio de San Juan de Letan at the fifth and sixth spots in the standings, but they have the upper hand by virtue of a superior quotient. The Pirates and the Knights are in a tug-of-war with Emilio Aguinaldo College for the fourth spot as the Generals are currently No.4 with a 7-7 record.

“Yung three straight losses namin, that’s in the past. Yan ang sinabi ko sa players ko,” said Malabanan after the game. “We only have to learn from it, and the good thing nakuha namin yung panalo after that.”

Malabanan also hailed Villegas for stepping up for the undermanned Pirates who still missed the services of the JM Bravo following his previous scare against Arellano University.

READ: Lyceum's Bravo to be discharged from hospital after passing out in game

”First of all, we dedicate this game to Bravo,” said Malabanan of JM, who will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. “About Villegas, oo he is the leading scorer, pero credit din sa mga teammates niya who rebounded and passed him the ball. It was a total team effort, pero consistent si Renz when it comes to scoring.”

After trailing 10-2 in the early stages of the game, the Intramuros-based team stunned the Stags with a 24-to-nine run in between the first and second quarters for a 26-19 lead following a lay-in by Lyceum’s Simon Penafiel midway through the second frame.

San Sebastian still managed to stay within striking distance early in the third as they were only trailing by five, but things went south for them from that point on.

LPU erupted for 31 in the third canto while also limiting the Stags to 17 in the same span, and this helped the Pirates to build a 74-50 cushion at the 9:44 mark of the fourth after a trey by Villegas.

Baste refused to fade into the sunset just like that as they made a late comeback attempt, but the nearest that they could get was at eight, as Nikko Aguilar made a triple seven seconds before the final buzzer sounded.

Aguilar had 14 points for SSC-R, while TJ Felebrico led the Stags in scoring with 18 markers on top of seven boards

Unfortunately, the Golden Stags fell to 4-11, still at the 10th and last spot in the standings.

THE SCORES: 

Lyceum 93 – Villegas 25, Barba 20, Peñafiel 10, Montaño 9, Guadaña 8, Panelo 6, Cunanan 4, Versoza 4, Daileg 3, Aviles 2, Moralejo 2, Caduyac 0

San Sebastian 85 – Felebrico 18, Aguilar 14, Are 12, Escobido 12, Velasco 6, R. Gabat 5, L. Gabat 4, Pascual 4, Barroga 3, Suico 3, Lintol 2, Cruz 2, Maliwat 0, Ramilo 0, Ricio 0

Quarterscores: 16-17, 40-33, 71-50, 93-85

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