Lyceum of the Philippines University bucked a slow start and showed composure down the stretch to deny Arellano University, 82-80, in the NCAA Season 98 on Tuesday.
The Pirates were outscored, 22-12, in the final period but did enough to hang on and escape with the narrow victory.
Gyle Montaño posted 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks to lead LPU, which notched back-to-back wins to ascend to 7-2.
Ato Barba scored 15 points and Mclaude Guadaña added 14, with both shooting 60-percent or better from the field.
Arellano, which got a game-high 21 points from Axel Doromal, slipped to 4-5.
The Pirates turned things around in the third frame, outscoring the Chiefs, 26 to 16, with Lyceum getting balanced output from Barba, Guadaña, Shawn Umali, and Enoch Valdez, to make it 70-58 in their favor.
But Arellano put up a fight come payoff period.
Travis Mantua led Arellano rally, knocking down eight points, highlighted by two huge triples, to pull his side to within four, 73-77.
A Shane Menina triple with 48.6 ticks left made it a single possession ballgame, 78-81, before he had another chance to tie the game but missed out on his next trey attempt.
Lyceum team captain Renzo Navarro then split his freebies to seal their seventh win in nine games.
With Montaño leading Lyceum from both ends, the Pirates were able to hold a slim 44-42 halftime lead with his 11 points early while the Chiefs were led by veteran sniper Menina.
The scores:
Lyceum 82 - Montaño 16, Barba 15, Guadaña 14, Valdez 9, Umali 7, Bravo 7, Larupay 6, Peñafiel 4, Cunanan 3, Navarro 1, Villegas 0.
Arellano 80 - Doromal 21, Menina 14, Abastillas 12, Flores 11, Oftana 8, Mantua 8, Tolentino 4, Mallari 2, Oliva 0, Antonio 0.
Quarters: 22-19, 44-42, 70-58, 82-80.
—JMB, GMA News
