NCAA: Lyceum edges out JRU to boost Final Four bid

LPU's John Barba in action. Photo from GMA/NCAA Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Host school Lyceum of the Philippines University edged out Jose Rizal University (JRU), 82-80, to boost its Final Four campaign in the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Pirates are now at 8-8, gaining them solo fourth place, and also breaking a three-way tie at 7-8 with Emilio Aguinaldo College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran as of presstime.

Leading the way for the Pirates was John Barba, who put up 20 points, while Renz Villegas and Gyle Montano added 18 points each.

Joshua Guiab's 27-piece, his career-high, and nine-rebound output for the Heavy Bombers went down the trash as they absorbed the loss, also missing the chance for a playoff spot.

Up by only one in the dying moments of the match, Lyceum's Mac Guadana split his freebies for a precarious two-point 82-80 lead.

With only 3.0 seconds on the clock, Shawn Argente threw a Hail Mary from midcourt to no avail, signaling the win for the Pirates.

The scores:

LYCEUM 82 – Barba 20, Villegas 18, Montaño 18, Peñafiel 10, Cunanan 4, Aviles 4, Versoza 4, Guadaña 3, Daileg 1, Moralejo 0, Panelo 0

JRU 80 – Guiab 27, De Jesus 14, Pangilinan 10, Barrera 9, Raymundo 8, Sarmiento 4, Argente 3, Ferrer 3, Bernardo 2, Mosqueda 0, De Leon 0, Lozano 0, Panapanaan 0, Samontanes 0

Quarter scores: 23-21, 47-38, 64-61, 82-80