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Outlast Red Lions in double OT for historic sweep

MANILA, Philippines — Lyceum of the Philippines University made NCAA history in grand fashion – overcoming San Beda’s tough stand, fighting from the brink in regulation and bucking a controversial call late in the first overtime to complete a stirring sweep of 18 elimination round games.

And their wild 107-105 double-overtime victory over the defending champions yesterday capped a four-month rollercoaster ride for a school that has never made it to the Final Four in its first six seasons in the league.

They headed straight to the best-of-three finals with the other berth to be disputed in the stepladder semis by No. 2 San Beda (16-2), third seed Jose Rizal U (11-7) and any from San Sebastian, Arellano U or Letran.

That crack at cage immortality nearly disappeared in a wild, wooly finish from regulation and into the two overtimes.

LPU blew a huge double-digit spread in the early going, fought back from five points down to force the first overtime, lived through in a helter-skelter windup to force another extension then rode on Cameroonian Mike Nzeusseu and CJ Perez’s clutch shots to snatch victory.

Nzeusseu hit a key shot to force the first OT then teamed up with Perez in the second extra period to carry the Pirates past the Lions to a perfect 18-0 record.

It almost didn’t materialize and ended in controversial fashion in the first overtime when the referee called a foul on JC Marcelino with 1.5 seconds left right after Perez shoved LPU to a 97-96 lead.

But as fate would have it, San Beda’s Robert Bolick flubbed the front end of his charities before sinking the second to force the second extension.

Through all the challenges and controversies, Lyceum coach Topex Robinson and the Pirates kept their cool and stayed focused on the task at hand.

“They make mistakes. I just told my players not to dwell on the referees’ mistakes and not use them as an excuse,” said Robinson.

Overshadowed by the Pirates’ historic feat was San Sebastian’s 80-60 rout of Perpetual Help in the other game that gave the Stags a shot at the last Final Four berth.

With a 9-9 slate, San Sebastian tied Letran and Arellano for No. 4, paving the way for a three-team playoff. But with a superior quotient, the Stags took a bye with the Knights and the Chiefs clashing in the first playoff at 3 p.m. today.

The winner will face the Stags in another playoff on Tuesday.

Nzeusseu broke out with a monster game, finishing with 27 points and 21 rebounds while Perez overcame a slow start and wound up with 20 points on top of six rebounds, the same number of assists and four steals.

But Robinson said it was a total team effort.

The scores:

First Game

LPU 107 – Nzeusseu 27, Perez 20, Marcelino JC 9, Caduyac 9, Pretta 8, Santos 8, Ayaay 7, Baltazar 6, Serrano 6, Marcelino JV 4, Ibañez 1.

SAN BEDA 105 – Tankoua 34, Bolick 16, Mocon 14, Doliguez 13, Abuda 8, Presbitero 6, Soberano 5, Noah 4, Oftana 3, Cabanag 2, Potts 0, Bahio 0, Adamos 0

Quarterscores: 25-22, 56-46, 70-69, 85-85 (Reg.), 97-97 (1st OT), 107-105 (2nd OT)

Second Game

SAN SEBASTIAN 80 – Ilagan 23, Calisaan 21, Bulanadi 9, Calma 6, Costelo 6, Capobres 5, David 4, Navarro 2, Mercado 2, Gayosa 2, Baetiong 0, Valdez 0

PERPETUAL 60 – Ylagan 16, Eze 12, Sadiwa 11, Coronel 10, Pido 8, Dagangon 3, Tamayo 0, Yuhico 0, Mangalino 0, Clemente 0, Casas 0

Quaretscores: 22-14, 40-28, 58-42, 80-60