THE Lyceum Pirates roared to their best start in the National Collegiate Athletic Association with a 99-65 rout of the Arellano University Chiefs Tuesday, July 25.
The Pirates thus added the Chiefs to their list of victims in the 93rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament as they roared to their fourth consecutive victory.
CJ Perez came up with another awesome performance, joining three teammates in scoring double digit outputs that powered the Pirates to that smashing rout of the Chiefs at the Arena in San Juan.
Perez led with 16 points but it was the Marcelino twins, Jaycee and Jayvee, got the Pirates off to a great start.
Jsper Ayaay had 13 markers along with Jaycee Marcelino and Ralph Tansingco. This allowed the Pirates to hold on to the solo lead.
The twins took charge in opening minutes, combining for 11 points that sent the Pirates to a 20-11 lead in the first 10 minutes.
With Perez scoreless in the second period Tansingco took over, hitting five points during a crucial stretch. The Pirates then went on to post a 10-point halftime spread, 40-30.
Ayaay scored five in the third, making his presence felt at the Pirates widened their lead, 63-49, at the end of the third.
“It’s always been team effort. CJ may be the face of the team. But he will never be better than his teammates,” said Pirates coach Topex Robinson.
The Chiefs, with Zach Nichols making 12 points, turned the ball over 27 times, and converted 26 of 71 field goal attempts.
Earlier, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals let Sidney Onwubere take over in the closing minutes as they put away the Mapua University Cardinals, 77-72.
Onwubere’s booming trey and two free charities had him finishing with 22 points, and pushed the Generals to their second win in four games.
His baskets capped an 11-2 run that gave EAC a 75-69 advantage with 27 ticks to go.
He came from an injury, but I told him he can recover, he can come back strong. That’s what happened today,” head coach Ariel Sison said.
In the junior division, Vincent Cunanan tallied 29 points to lead the Lyceum Junior Pirates to a 95-85 demolition of the Arellano University Braves, and their second win in four outings.
Games Thursday
(at SSC-Cavite)
2 p.m. SSC-R vs JRU (jrs)
4 p.m. SSC-R vs JRU (srs)