Fiery Pirates repel Knights

MANILA, Philippines — Lyceum of the Philippines University banked on a strong second-half performance as it outlasted Letran, 101-95, yesterday to seize the solo Group B lead in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup 2019 at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Cameroonian Mike Nzeusseu powered his way to 20 points including five in the final minute that helped the Pirates claim their third straight victory and the top spot in their bracket while dealing the Knights their first defeat after three wins in a row.

But LPU struggled in the first half and even trailed by as many as 13 points, 48-61, on a triple by Letran’s Fran Yu early in the third period.

The Pirates, however, clogged the lanes and went to the troika of Nzeusseu, Raymar Caduyac and Jaycee Marcelino on the offensive end to close the gap before eventually tying the count at 92 on a Caduyac bucket with about a minute and a half to go.

Then Nzeusseu went to work as he capped a 9-3 exchange on a putback off a Caduyac miss and a three-point play from a laser-like pass by Caduyac to seal the deal.

Earlier, College of St. Benilde, led by Yankie Haruna with 19 points, routed Jose Rizal U, 79-56, for its first triumph in three starts.

The Bombers slipped to their second straight defeat.