Lyceum escapes past Arellano in OT

MANILA, Philippines — Lyceum of the Philippines University outlasted the gutsy Arellano University in overtime, 90-86, for its second win in four games in the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Friday, Sept. 20. Chiefs remain winless in four games this season. Arellano U held a nine-point lead in the fourth frame, 76-67, with three minutes and 44 seconds left in the game. But the Pirates responded with a 7-0 rally to trim Arellano's lead down to one, 76-75, courtesy of buckets by John Barba, Jonathan Daileg, and Vince Cunanan. Maverick Vinoya ended the Chiefs' scoring drought after muscling a layup for a 78-75, however, Gyle Montaño converted a triple to tie the game with 47 seconds remaining. Vinoya and Mclaude Guadaña both went to the charity line after being fouled but both players split their freebies, sending the match to overtime, 79-79. After trading baskets in the first two minutes in overtime, John Barba made back-to-back offensive plays, scoring on top of the key and a layup to give Lyceum an 86-82 lead.Troy Valencia and Ernest Geronimo tried to rally the Chiefs back into the game but Guadaña's pull-up jumper made it 90-86 for Pirates with 20 second to go.Arellano was not able to make a basket in the next play."Honestly, maybe that's the trademark of LPU, we all want our opponent to know that that's LPU's identity that whether we were down in the game, we will never give up," head coach Gilbert Malabanan said. Barba scored 25 points while Montaño added 17 for the Pirates. Maverick Vinoya scored a career-high 22 points for the Chiefs. Valencia added 18.