Pirates notch win No. 11 in error-filled game; Lions win sans Bolick

Games Tuesday (September 12)

(Filoil Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – Arellano U vs Mapua (jrs)

2 p.m. – Arellano U vs Mapua (srs)

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs San Sebastian (srs)

6:30 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs San Sebastian (jrs)

MANILA, Philippines – Lyceum of the Philippines University survived a spate of errors as it turned back College of St. Benilde, 83-69, Friday to clinch its 11th straight win in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.

CJ Perez paced his team with 14 points while MJ Ayaay and Cameroonian Mike Nzeusseu had 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Pirates preserved their perfect record while closing in on a berth in the Final Four.

LPU assistant coach Jeff Perlas, who spoke in behalf of head coach Topex Robinson, rued his team’s maze of errors.

“We’re far from being satisfied with our win, we have lots of turnovers and we really have to take care of the ball,” said Perlas, whose squad turned the ball 23 times.

It was a stronger effort by the Blazers compared to their first meeting with the Pirates on Aug. 1 when the former absorbed a crushing 55-98 defeat on August 1.

Edward Dixon posted a career-high 27 points, 11 of which came from the foul line, while Senegalese Clement Leutcheu had 13 points and 20 boards but the two just couldn’t save the Blazers by themselves to fall to 2-9.

“The teams are catching up, they’re finding ways to counter our press. We have to find a way to adjust our defense,” said Perlas.

Earlier, San Beda bucked the absence of its coach and two of its key players as it routed Mapua, 88-70, to book its ninth straight win and 10th overall against a defeat.

AC Soberano led the way with 17 points he laced with three booming triples while Javee Mocon pounded his way to 11 points and 10 rebounds to make up for the absence of coach Boyet Fernandez and teammates Robert Bolick and Clint Doliguez.

Fernandez, Bolick and Doliguez served out their one-game suspension for their misconduct in San Beda’s 72-58 win over St. Benilde Tuesday.

“Happy with the way we played despite the absence of Bolick and Doliguez, who are two of our best scorers,” said San Beda team manager Jude Roque. “What’s noticeable, everybody stepped up and the we had better ball movement.

“They didn’t look for a go-to-guy, everybody was able to score,” he added.

The Cardinals fell to 1-10.

In juniors’ action, Will Gozum sank two free throws with 3.8 seconds to go as defending champion Mapua to a 73-71 win over San Beda to remain atop the heap with La Salle-Greenhills, which downed LPU, 90-83.

The Cubs fell to fourth with a 6-5 card, half a game behind the Letran Squires (6-4).

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 88 – Soberano 17, Mocon 11, Tankoua 9, Noah 9, Cabanag 8, Potts 8, Oftana 6, Tongco 5, Adamos 5, Abuda 4, Presbitero 2, Carino 2, Bahio 2

Mapua 70 – Gabo 17, Aguirre 16, Nieles 13, Pelayo 9, Bunag 8, Raflores 4, Victoria 3, Orquina 0

Quarterscores: 18-17; 40-32; 58-49; 88-70

Second Game

LPU 83 – Perez 14, Ayaay 12, Nzeusseu 10, Caduyac 9, Pretta 9, Jc. Marcelino 7, Baltazar 7, Jv. Marcelino 6, Tansingco 5, Marata 2, Ibanez 2, Cinco 0, Liwag 0, Serrano 0

CSB 69 – Dixon 27, Leutcheu 13 Belgica 10, Domingo 6, Johnson 5, Sta. Maria 4, Castor 2, Naboa 2, Pili 0, San Juan 0

Quarterscores: 23-10; 46-30; 66-53; 83-68