Pirates down Cards; Generals maul Knights

MANILA, Philippines — Lyceum of the Philippines University overcame a fourth-quarter explosion of Clint Escamis as it downed erstwhile solo leader Mapua, 86-82, yesterday in NCAA Season 99 seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The Pirates needed a double-digit cushion to survive the three-point barrage of Escamis and in the process catch up with the Cardinals atop the heap at 9-3.

Patrick Montano fired 18 points that he laced with four booming triples while Shawn Umali provided the pillar inside with 17 points.

Escamis, the MVP race leader, erupted for 14 of his game-best 25 points in that furious fourth-quarter fightback by the Cardinals that eventually fizzled out late with the Pirates showing poise under pressure.

“The players responded well, everybody stepped up,” said LPU coach Gilbert Malabanan.

Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College boosted its own Final Four bid with a ruthless 82-69 win over Letran.

JP Maguliano and Nat Cosejo were all over the place, scoring 20 and 18 points, respectively, for EAC.