Aurigue’s double-double keys Lyceum win

MANILA, Philippines — “Just get those rebounds.”

Those were the instructions that big man Lance Aurigue followed to the letter from Lyceum coach Jamike Jarin in lifting the Pirates to a pulsating, come-from-behind 88-87 victory over Mapua yesterday in NCAA Season 102 at the PhilSports Arena.

Aurigue did pluck those rebounds like picking apples from a three and finished with a game-high 13 including four offensively late in the fourth quarter that led to scoring opportunities for him – nine points in total – in the clutch that propelled LPU to its first win in two starts.

“He was just huge for us,” said Jarin of Arique, who ended up firing 21 points, another match-best.

Lyceum also produced a couple of heroes in Renz Villegas, who scattered 17 points, and Matthew Rubico, who had 15 markers including a booming triple from way, way deep.

It was another heartbreaker for the Cardinals, as they blew another one following last week’s 64-65 defeat to the Jose Rizal Bombers at the Filoil Center.

The duel wasn’t pretty, though, as both squads missed 23 free throws – 11 from LPU and 12 from Mapua – but it cost the Cardinals even more as they couldn’t cash in on their opportunities for the second straight outing.

Mapua had one last chance to steal the win but Sherwin Concepcion misfired his last-gasp attempt from beyond the arc.

Later, Perpetual Help trounced San Sebastian, 86-74, to improve to 2-1. The Stags dropped to 0-3.