By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
THE National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 94 juggernaut that is the Lyceum Pirates continued to roll on Tuesday as they raced to their 10th victory in as many games with an 88-70 win over the struggling San Sebastian Stags at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Displaying steady composure, the Pirates (10-0) kept the Stags (1-9) at bay throughout the contest as they secured the win streak-keeping victory while adding to the season misery of tailending San Sebastian.
The contest started tight with the two teams fighting to a 13-10 count, with Lyceum on top, after five minutes in the opening quarter.
But led by reigning league most valuable player CJ Perez, Lyceum would end the frame on a flourish, outscoring its opponent, 14-3, to hold a 27-13 advantage after 10 minutes.
The Stags, however, would fight back in the second quarter as Allyn Bulanadi and JM Calma made their presence felt.
They managed to cut Lyceum’s lead to four points midway into the period but could not go beyond that as Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino and Mike Nzeusseu towed the Pirates on another breakaway en route to finishing the first half with a 46-36 advantage.
In the third period, Lyceum tried to blow the game wide open, going on a 14-7 run to stretched their lead to 17 points, 60-43, with 6:12 to go in the quarter.
Michael Calisaan though helped stopped the bleeding for San Sebastian, which racked up eight straight points in the next minute and half to narrow the gap at nine points, 60-51.
The Stags charged back further but the Pirates would survive the onslaught to maintain a 65-59 lead heading into the final quarter. The erstwhile suspended RK Ilagan and Calisaan tried to jump-start the offense of San Sebastian to begin the fourth with some success only to be countered eventually by Lyceum’s defense.
The Pirates held a 13-point lead, 79-66, with four minutes left on the clock and took it from there on their way to the victory.
Perez led Lyceum with 21 points, nine rebounds and five steals while Jaycee Marcelino finished with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Jayvee Marcelino had 14 points and six assists.
Calisaan, meanwhile, paced San Sebastian with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Bulanadi and Ilagan each had 13 points. Calma ended up with 10.

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