 |
| Lance Aurigue still got this rebound. Peter Baltazar |
PASIG—Mapua lost yet another heartbreaker in Group A of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament, this time at the hands of Lyceum 88-87 at PhilSports Arena on Monday.
The Pirates, who improved to a 1-1 record, gave the Cardinals some bitter memories of their campaign opener when they bowed to Jose Rizal University, also in a one-point nail-biter.
Lance Aurigue fueled Lyceum’s first win of the season with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Aside from wanting to help the Pirates barge into the win column, Aurigue also wanted to give coach Jamike Jarin a win to remember in the NCAA’s return to the famed Pasig sporting complex for the first time in almost 27 years.
“Nahirapan kami kasi coming from a loss, pressured kami kasi kailangan namin makuha ‘tong panalo na ‘to,” he said.
“Nagkuwento rin pala si Coach Jamike sa amin na masaya siyang maglaro ulit dito sa ULTRA. As a coach ng Ateneo dati, nag-champion siya dito at dito rin siya nanalo ng first game niya sa PBA with Phoenix kaya sabi namin kailangan manalo kami,” he added, pertaining to the league’s return to PhilSports, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
With the score tied at 83-all, Aurigue split his freebies only for Jamal Diaz to answer on the other end with a jumper to put Mapua up, 85-84, with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter.
Aurigue took matters into his own hands, responding with a two-pointer and a perfect trip to the free-throw line to give the Pirates back the advantage, 88-85, with 38 ticks to go.
The Cardinals had a clear shot at sending the game to an extra period when Omar Gordon fouled Marc Cuenco on a three-point attempt in the 28-second mark of the payoff period.
Cuenco, however, only sank two of his four attempts from the charity stripe, as he was given an extra attempt due to a lane violation. He finished with 15 markers.
Even if Aurigue had missed both his shots from the line in the last five seconds of the game, the Cardinals were unable to buy a bucket as they dropped to a 0-2 card.
Renz Villegas and Matthew Rubico helped Lyceum’s cause with 17 and 15 points, respectively, in the win.
The duo of Marcus Nitura and Ivan Lazarte finished with 14 points each for Mapua. Diaz also had 13 markers in a losing effort.
The scores:
LPU 88 - Aurigue 21, Villegas 17, Rubico 15, Guadana 9, Almario 7, Manuel 6, Penafiel 6, Daileg 3, Ondoa 3, Gordon 1, Matienzo 0, Caduyac 0, Panelo 0, Cardinas 0
Mapua 87 - Cuenco 15, M. Nitura 14, Lazarte 14, Diaz 13, Igliane 11, Concepcion 10, L. Nitura 8, Razon 2, Reyes 0, Mendoza 0, Liwanag 0
Quarters: 25-25, 46-47, 64-70, 88-87
