Other players step up for Lyceum in win over San Beda

Coach Gilbert Malabanan and the Lyceum Pirates celebrate after escaping San Beda.-NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum always relied on veteran star John Barba to bail them out in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.

But with Barba struggling mightily to find his rhythm against the defensive schemes of defending champion San Beda on Tuesday, it was the Pirates’ turn to return the favor.

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“We needed to make adjustments. We knew that when the ball is with Barba, he’ll get doubled, they really prevented him from scoring so in the second half, I challenged my other players,” said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan, whose squad snapped San Beda’s four-game winning streak.

READ: NCAA: Clutch triples help Mapua, Lyceum escape

Barba’s teammates responded and got the job done in a 64-62 escape with Greg Cunanan draining the game-winning 3-pointer and Gyle Montaño leading the team in scoring with 12 points.

Cunanan and Montaño picked up the slack and made up for Barba’s subpar showing in a game where he registered just four points and missed all of his 11 shots from the field

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“You just don’t know who will explode. All my players contributed. Even my third group, I commend them because they embraced whatever role I give them,” said Malabanan.

“The confidence that I give them was worth it. They make the most of those minutes even if it’s limited.”

With Lyceum trailing by one, Cunanan delivered the clutch triple to propel the Pirates to their sixth win in 11 games and tie Letran in fourth place.

READ: NCAA: Barba’s explosion a testament to Lyceum’s unpredictability

“He’s my leader and captain. I told him, ‘this is your team.’ It’s his responsibility to see whatever’s going on inside the court.  I trust him 100 percent,” Malabanan said of Cunanan, who finished with 11 points.

“Before the second round started, I told him that he’s the head coach whenever he’s on the floor. He has the guts.”

The Pirates look to further improve their place in the standings when they face lowly Arellano on Saturday.