NCAA: JOSHUA MORALEJO MAKES IT RAIN IN STUNNING LYCEUM UPSET VS. SAN BEDA

Joshua Moralejo went ballistic from beyond the arc late to lift Lyceum of the Philippines University to a 78-66 win against San Beda University in the NCAA Season 101 on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The graduating guard dropped four triples in the fourth, including three straight triples that pulled the Pirates away for good, as Lyceum sent the Red Lions to their second loss in a row.  

Moralejo scored Lyceum's last 11 points to finish with a season-high 25 points along with five rebounds, four assists, and one steal as Lyceum secured its biggest win so far to improve to 2-7 in Group A.

San Beda, which was coming off a heartbreaking triple overtime loss to University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, sank to 6-3 in Group B.

"We feel very happy. Sabi ko nga, it's good to be back in the winning column and syempre, credit to my players kasi talagang they really really wanted to win this game," Lyceum head coach Gilbert Malabanan said. 

"Talagang gusto nilang mag-bounce back sa mga losses namin before and hopefully, ito na 'yung start ng peak ng team namin."

(We feel very happy. Like I said, it's good to be back in the winning column and of course, credit to my players because they really really wanted to win this game... They really wanted to bounce back from our losses before and hopefully this is the start of our team's peak.)

While all eyes were on usual suspects in Ato Barba and Renz Villegas, the Pirates proved they have more than enough weapons in their arsenal against a champion team like San Beda. 

Gyle Montaño, who was just averaging 4.88 points per game, carried LPU in the first half by pouring 10 of his overall output to help his side establish a slim 36-31 at the break. 

Simon Peñafiel then completed a three-point play before Omar Gordon buried a corner triple for a 53-45 lead in the third. Moralejo knocked down a triple, but San Beda answered with Zedjay Etulle hitting one from the corner to spark the rally, 58-51. 

But San Beda could not put the clamps on the red-hot Moralejo. 

The senior guard caught fire in the fourth, first converting a triple and a layup that sent the embattled LPU to a 64-55 lead early in the period. Janti Miller then ignited another comeback attempt for San Beda with a personal 6-0 run. 

That woke up the beast in Moralejo as he torched the Red Lions with three straight triples — all of which came from way beyond the arc — before sealing it with a tough layup that punctuated an insane fourth-quarter showing from him. 

Montaño tallied 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal while Barba collected 10 markers, seven boards, and three dimes. Villegas was limited to just two points but hauled eight crucial rebounds. 

San Beda got another huge game from Miller, who posted 22 points, six rebounds, and two assists while Bismarck Lina chipped in with 12 markers and eight boards.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News

This article NCAA: Joshua Moralejo makes it rain in stunning Lyceum upset vs. San Beda was originally published in GMA News Online.