Lyceum crushes JRU in Filoil debut

MANILA, Philippines – The Lyceum Pirates, minus its core that is currently playing in the PBA D-League finals, crushed Jose Rizal University, 90-69, in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.

LPU looked to blow out JRU early in the first quarter when they led 20-7, but the Heavy Bombers roared back into the game behind rookie forward Jarvy Ramos, who scored three straight baskets to slice the deficit, 15-20, with 48 seconds left.

Late in the second quarter, after Jed Mendoza brought JRU closer, 38-32, after a Darius Estrella trey, LPU uncorked a mighty 15-6 windup that ended the Heavy Bombers’ threat.

Lyceum, led by its “Baga Boys” of Jamba Garin and Archie Salo, the heirs to the Marcelino twins for their high-energy game, poured it on with the lead reaching as high as 24 following an undergoal stab by Pirates rookie Germy Mahinay, who played for the San Beda Red Cubs in high school.

“I told the boys that this is their moment to shine and show what they can do,” said assistant coach Jeff Perlas, who stood in place of Topex Robinson. “We have been fortunate enough to pick up these talented players who fit our system and can help our team.”

Behind the Baga Boys, Lyceum scored 22 fastbreak points to the six of JRU. Lyceum shot 58 percent from the field while holding JRU to a poor 36 percent shooting.

The Pirates were missing mainstays Mike Nzeusseu, Jesper Ayaay, Reymar Caduyac, Kim Cinco, Jaycee and Jayvee Marcelino, CJ Perez and Yosi Tansingco, who are preparing for Game Three of the D-League Finals.

However, Casper Pericas, Yancy Remulla, Spencer Pretta and Jerwyn Guinto answered the challenge.

Pericas displayed a lot of derring-do as he scored s game-high 16 points while dishing off nine assists. Remulla, who played for San Sebastian in high school, added 15 while Preta and Guinto added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

For JRU, it was only Jarvy Ramos who scored in double figures with 12 points.

“We have a young team with only a few veterans,” noted JRU head coach Vergel Meneses, who only listed Jed Mendoza, Darius Estrella, MJ Dela Virgen and Karl Bordon as his veterans.

Estrella himself did not play after suffering a knee injury right before the start of the previous NCAA season.

“Still a long way to go, pero meron pag-asa yung bigs,” added Meneses, was referring to his raw frontline of Ramos, Stefan Steinl and Junmark Silvarez, who combined for 27 points, 23 rebounds and 1 block.

Perlas was surprised that LPU came out firing on all cylinders on both ends of the court.

“I think the boys were really motivated,” underscored Perlas.

The scores:

LPU 90 – Pericas 16, Remulla, 15, Pretta 11, Guinto 10, Mahinay 8, Liwag 8, Ibanes 7, Garing 6, Salo 6, Barbero 3.

JRU 69 – Ramos 12, Mendoza 9, Steinl 9, Estrella 7, Dela Virgen 7, Silvarez 6, Dulalia 6, De Guzman 5, Bordon 3, Butcon 3, Dela Rosa 2, Serafica 0, Ocay 0, Yu 0