Pirates hold off Bombers, stay at No. 4

MANILA, Philippines - Lyceum worked behind Chris Cayabyab’s fiery shooting as it fought back from 13 points and went on to turn back Jose Rizal U, 71-65, yesterday and keep their spot on No. 4 in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Cayabyab poured in nine of his 19 points in the final quarter, capping the Pirates’ stirring comeback from a 38-51 deficit to frustrate the Heavy Bombers and annex their fifth win against the same number of losses for solo fourth.

“He (Cayabyab) is now getting used to the fact that he is now a marked man, he’s now being more creative and assertive,” said Lyceum assistant coach Chris Brower.

The Pirates preserved Cayabyab’s endgame heroics with a pesky defense as they held the Bombers to just three points in the last six minutes of the highly physical contest.

“We also showed defensive toughness in the fourth quarter, it helped us a lot,” said Brower.

The Pirates thus avenged their 68-74 defeat to the Bombers last Aug. 15 and kept them in the upper half of the standings dominated by unbeaten San Sebastian (10-0), defending champion San Beda (9-1) and Letran (8-2).

So intense was the game that six flagrant and technical fouls were called, including a pair of unsportsmanlike fouls on Floricel Guevarra that led to his ejection late in the third for an automatic one-game suspension.

Also slapped with technicals were Jose Rizal’s Reycon Kabigting and Alex Almario and Lyceum’s Allan Santos and Jhygruz Laude.

The Bombers, led by Byron Villarias’ 13 points in the first half, dropped to 3-7.

Earlier, undermanned Perpetual Help relied on Jet Vidal’s fourth quarter explosion as it surprised St. Benilde, 63-57, for only its second win in 11 games.

Vidal, a transferee from Philippine Christian U, scattered 13 of his game-high 17 points in the final period, including three triples to help the Altas avenge an 83-88 loss to the Blazers in the first round last July 29.

Vidal actually made a season high 17 attempts from beyond the arc but hit just four, the last three breaking the backs of the Blazers.

“He’s really our triggerman in the team and he proved me right today (yesterday),” said Perpetual mentor Jimwel Gican.