MANILA – The Lyceum Pirates secured their third straight win in five games after a late surge against Mapua, 96-81, in the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament, Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Only a two-possession match at 85-80, the doors were wide open for a Mapua comeback, but the Cardinals' Marc Cuenco faltered in his layup attempt at the 1:30 mark in the final frame.

Lyceum's John Barba had two sorry misses from the 15-foot-line in the next play, but reigning MVP Clint Escamis failed to capitalize on that after a blunder on his shot inside the paint.

Barba made up for his empty trip to the line later on, sinking an and-one to gift the Pirates a 10-point separation, 90-80, with 43.4 seconds left, virtually sealing the triumph for his team.

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The Pirates' spectacular showing was then highlighted by a monster Mclaude Guadana block on Escamis on a triple attempt with 29 ticks in regulation.

Barba was a rebound shy of a double-double with a 25-9 stat line, bannering the balanced scoring of the Pirates.

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Guadana had 16 points, Vincent Cunanan dropped 15, and Jonathan Daileg had 14 for the winning cause.

Meanwhile, Jeco Bancale paced the defeated side with 14 points.

There's now a four-team logjam for third, with the San Beda Red Lions, Letran Knights, Mapua, and Lyceum all holding a 3-2 win-loss slate in the standings.

The scores:

LYCEUM 96 – Barba 25, Guadaña 16, Cunanan 15, Daileg 14, Villegas 8, Caduyac 6, Peñafiel 5, Montaño 5, Aviles 2, Panelo 0

MAPUA 81 – Bancale 14, Escamis 13, Hubilla 13, Cuenco 11, Mangubat 10, Igliane 6, Concepcion 5, Recto 4, Ryan 3, Jabonete 2, Agemenyi 0

Quarter scores: 22-25, 39-45, 65-66, 96-81