Timeout

RUBICO NAILS TRIPLE-DOUBLE PERFORMANCE AS LYCEUM SNAPS MAPUA’S 4-GAME WINNING RUN

SPITFIRISH Matthew Rubico quite literally carried the fight for Lyceum of the Philippines as the Junior Pirates dealt Mapua its first loss via a cardiac 80-76 decision in the National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors basketball tournament at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

10 February 2023

Games on Monday:
(EAC Gym)
7:30 a.m. – Mapua vs Arellano
9:30 a.m. – JRU vs Letran
11:30 a.m. – EAC vs LSGH
2:30 p.m. – SSC-R vs LPU
4:30 p.m. – Perpetual vs San Beda

SPITFIRISH Matthew Rubico quite literally carried the fight for Lyceum of the Philippines as the Junior Pirates dealt Mapua its first loss via a cardiac 80-76 decision in the National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors basketball tournament at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

Rubico nailed a rare triple-double performance, a first in the 98th edition of the country’s oldest collegiate league, made up of an impressive 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists game statistics.

It was not, however, as easy as it would seem as Rubico converted only one of his first 17 attempts in the early goings but he nailed the game’s biggest basket in the form of a pull-up jumper that gave Lyceum a 68-65 breathing space with 47.2 seconds left in the nationally televised game.

Lyceum never looked back from there and the Red Robins saw their four-game winning run snapped.

In the other game, Seven Gagate racked up 16 of his 22 points in the second half, allowing College of St. Benilde-La Salle Green Hills to storm back from 19 points down and pull the rug from under defending champion San Beda, 87-84, while extending its winning streak to three games.

CSB trailed 43-62 midway in the third period before the Greenies put their acts together led by the triumvirate of Christian Mesias, Luis Pablo, and Gagate delivered down the stretch to continue their rise from a 0-2 start.

Gagate also had 14 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks even as Mesias had 16 points, and 11 boards, and Rod Alian came away with 10 points, and 10 boards for LSGH.

James Ison and Gian Gomez had 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Santi Romero chipped in nine points, five boards, four steals, and three assists for the Greenies.

Andrei Dungo led the Red Cubs with 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals while Hubilla added 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Earlier, the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta and San Sebastian routed separate foes to move in a tie with LPU and LSGH at 3-2.

Amiel Acido had 22 points and 10 boards while Icee Callangan and Jan Pagulayan each had 18 points as the Junior Altas downed winless Emilio Aguinaldo College, 96-81.

Ernest Geromino came through with 17 points, nine assists, and seven boards as the Staglets used a 28-point second quarter to beat Jose Rizal University, 81-70.

The Red Cubs and the Light Bombers fell to 2-3.