Pirates sail to No. 10 vs Cards

Games tomorrow

12 nn. – Letran vs Perpetual Help (jrs)

2 p.m. – Letran vs Perpetual Help (srs)

4 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs Arellano U (srs)

6 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs Arellano U (jrs)

MANILA, Philippines — Lyceum of the Philippines University survived a late Mapua fightback as it eked out a 96-90 decision to stretch its unbeaten run to 10 in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

CJ Perez fired 22 points while Jaycee Marcelino chipped in 19 markers for the Pirates, who took control against the league’s cellar-dwellers only after three quarters, 73-58.

But the Cardinals struck back in the fourth, pulling to within, 88-94, but ran out of time and took their ninth loss against a lone victory.

Earlier, San Beda trounced St. Benilde, 72-58, in a game that saw the ejection of three players, including MVP candidate Robert Bolick.

With the outcome already decided, St. Benilde’s Carlo Young hacked Bolick with 2.28 minutes to go that led to the former’s ejection.

After a thorough video review, officials also assessed Bolick a disqualifying foul for hitting Young with a closed fist.

Bolick, however, protested the decision.

“I didn’t do anything, you saw the video,” said Bolick.

San Beda’s Clint Doliguez was also tossed out for leaving the bench.

The ejection means Bolick, Young and Doliguez will receive an automatic one-game suspension although this is the second suspension for Young, who is expected to receive stiffer sanction.

But unless the foul will be downgraded, Bolick will be ineligible to win any individual award, including the MVP trophy. He is running sixth in the MVP race.

Bolick said he doesn’t mind.

“I don’t really care if they hate me, it’s okay for me. I told my team I’m not playing to win the MVP, I could really care less, I’m just playing to win,” said Bolick. “One thing is, you’ll never take the will, the love of the game that I will give for San Beda to win another championship.

“I’ll accept whatever they will say,” he added.

San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez also lashed at league commissioner Arturo Cristobal.

“Why penalize the other guy who didn’t even throw a punch? If it’s a closed fist, it’s a closed fist, but they have to show me the tape. But I don’t think it’s a closed fist because he was pushed by the other guy,” said Fernandez.

“The guy was running for MVP. He destroyed the future of that guy,” he added.

Bolick wound up with 14 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists as the Lions sealed their eighth straight win and ninth overall in 10 outings while the Blazers fell to 2-8 (win-loss).

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 72 – Bolick 14, Potts 12, Mocon 10, Soberano 8, Tankoua 7, Cabanag 5, Noah 5, Bahio 4, Carino 3, Adamos 2, Doliguez 2, Abuda 0, Oftana 0, Tongco 0

St. Benilde 58 – Leutcheu 25, Domingo 8, Sta. Maria 8, Pili 5, Castor 4, Belgica 2, Dixon 2, Naboa 2, San Juan 2, Johnson 0, Young 0

Quarterscores: 17-18; 41-28; 63-41; 72-58

Second Game

LPU 96 – Perez 22, Jc. Marcelino 19, Ayaay 10, Tansingco 10, Caduyac 8, Pretta 8, Jv. Marcelino 6, Liwag 5, Nzeusseu 5, Marata 3, Baltazar 0, Cinco 0, Ibanez 0, Santos 0

Mapua 90 – Gabo 21, Bunag 18, Victoria 16, Aguirre 11, Nieles 9, Orquina 7, Pelayo 6, Raflores 2

Quarterscores: 20-21; 48-43; 73-58; 96-90