JM Calma shone bright as San Sebastian College-Recoletos trounced Lyceum of the Philippines University, 83-71, to bounce back from a tough loss in NCAA Season 97 on Sunday.
Calma finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Rommel Calahat backed him up with 15 markers, including seven in the crucial fourth quarter.
The win was huge for San Sebastian as it improved to a 2-3 card two days after a tight 61-60 defeat to the San Beda Red Lions, while Lyceum sank to 1-4.
The 6-foot-6 Calma had a hot start, pouring in 19 points in the first half alone, which ended with the Stags enjoying a 46-29 cushion over the Pirates.
The Pirates inched closer in the third with Enoch Valdez going for a layup that cut their deficit to just 11, 54-43, before back-to-back triples from Renzo Navarro and a basket by Vincent Cunanan made it a 59-51 affair, with the Stags still in the lead.
The third ended with only 10 points separating the two teams, 61-51.
The Pirates, hungry to follow up their 82-75 victory over Jose Rizal University last Wednesday, staged some fightback in the fourth including a Valdez slam dunk and another basket later on that had Lyceum within six points, 68-62,
But a long jumper from Calma in the 2:12 mark of the frame proved crucial as they grabbed a 75-67 cushion.
Ken Villapando then drilled five straight points to put the game away for San Sebastian, 80-69.
Omar Larupay led Lyceum with 14 points and 11 boards while Valdez scored eight points in the fourth quarter to finish with 12 for the game for the Pirates.
San Sebastian will take on Emilio Aguinaldo College on Wednesday while Lyceum faces Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Sunday.
The scores:
San Sebastian 83 — Calma 23, Calahat 15, Villapando 12, Sumoda 8, Una 8, Dela Cruz 5, Gabat 4, Shanoda 4, Felebrico 2, Cosari 2, Desoyo 0, Abarquez 0.
Lyceum 71 — Larupay 14, Valdez 12, Navarro 11, Guinto 8, Bravo 7, Guadana 7, Remulla 4, Cunanan 2, Garro 2, Umali 2, Barba 2.
Quarters: 23-20, 46-29, 61-51, 83-71
—JMB, GMA News
