Red Lions stay in thick of fight

Games today:

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

1:30 p.m. — Saint Benilde vs EAC

3:30 p.m. — Mapua vs JRU

San Beda University bombarded Lyceum of the Philippines University with 13 three-pointers en route to a 74-56 victory to stay alive in the Final Four race of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 men's basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

NCAA Player of the Week Yukien Andrada fired a career-high 26 points behind a 6-of-11 shooting clip from the three-point line as the Red Lions now have a playoff spot for the fourth spot in the semifinals.

With San Beda now holding an 11-6 win-loss record, the Lions also eliminated the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta despite winning its final game of the elimination round with a 75-60 drubbing over San Sebastian College earlier yesterday.

The Lions will only need to win their last assignment against archrival Letran College on Friday to secure their place in the Final Four.

Apart from Andrada, Jacob Cortez also came up big for San Beda with 16 points while rookie big man Jomel Puno had eight points.

Red Lions head coach Yuri Escueta praised his boys for sticking to their game plan against Lyceum.

"I have to give it to the boys for executing well. Defensively, they were able to follow the game plan and also offensively. I'm speechless on how well they executed it," Escueta said.

"Regardless of who we face, every game is important. It's a good thing our last opponents are stronger because the players will be accustomed to playing stronger teams."

Pirates team captain Enoch Valdez's 17 points weren't enough as Lyceum finished the elimination round in second place with a 14-4 record.

Lyceum already secured a Final Four slot and a twice-to-beat advantage so the Pirates are just waiting for their opponent in the semifinals.

The first game of the day saw Jielo Razon cap his NCAA career with a career-high 26 points Perpetual as the Altas finished the elimination round in sixth place with a 10-8 record.

Romel Calahat flirted with a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds as San Sebastian dropped to a 2-15 slate at ninth.