LYCEUM of the Philippines University survived another close shave, this time against Arellano University, 82-80, to cap its first round campaign with two straight victories in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Trailing 78-81, the Chiefs tried to send the game into overtime, but Shane Menina’s three-pointer rimmed out in the final 11 seconds.

Renzo Navarro then sealed the Pirates’ win by splitting his charities off a Menina foul for an 82-78 advantage, with 4.4 seconds remaining.

LPU, runners-up in 2017 and 2018, finished its first round stint with a 7-2 record, trailing league-leading College of Saint Benilde (7-1) by half-a-game.

It was a major turnaround from previous season’s 2-7 record, as Pirates coach Gilbert Malabanan always make a point in every training to reverse his team’s current standing to avoid fall into a trap of complacency.

“Parang ibinaliktad lang yung standing,” said Malabanan. “Pero sabi ko sa kanila, we are not looking at the standings kasi. Everytime we are going to practice, everytime we go to the game, lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na we have to win.”

“Ayokong inilalagay sa utak nila na No. 2 kami,” he added.

LPU followed up last Sunday’s 82-79 overtime win over San Sebastian.

“For us, it’s a good thing na nagkaroon kami ng ganitong mga laro na dikitan, kasi lalo na ngayong magse-second round. And we will gonna expect na lahat ng teams talaga, gustong umakyat eh.

Mas mae-experience pa namin mas maraming ganito,” said Malabanan.

“Good thing talaga nae-experience kami ganito mga dikitan, para yung composure ng mga players namin, nandoon pa rin,” he added.

Malabanan hopes that the Pirates needed to play better defensively in the second round.

“Concern ko lang is yung defense namin. Sometimes, nagre-relax talaga ang mga players namin. Nandito naman kaming mga coaches to remind them, kasi kailangan mo naman talagang i-instill sa kanila yung mga reminders eh,” said Malabanan.

“Kahit paulit-ulit tayo na, basta ma-instill nila yung instructions, yung gusto nating ipagawa sa kanila. Good thing naman, to the last point, nagagawa nila ng tama,” he added.

Gyle Montaño led LPU with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, John Barba chipped in 15 points and four boards, while Mac Guadaña added 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Arellano will enter the second round with a 4-5 record – one-and-a-half game behind joint fourth placers San Beda and Letran.

Axel Doromal had 21 points, while Menina contributed 14 points and three assists for the Chiefs.

The scores:

LPU (82) — Montaño 16, Barba 15, Guadaña 14, Valdez 9, Umali 7, Bravo 7, Larupay 6, Peñafiel 4, Cunanan 3, Navarro 1, Villegas 0.
Arellano (80) — Doromal 21, Menina 14, Abastillas 12, Flores 11, Oftana 8, Mantua 8, Tolentino 4, Mallari 2, Oliva 0, Antonio 0.
Quarterscores: 22-19, 44-42, 70-58, 82-80