Enoch Valdez displayed poise under pressure, nailing the go-ahead triple in crunchtime to lift Lyceum past Jose Rizal University in overtime, 99-96, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Skipper Valdez made sure the Pirates would not suffer the same heartbreaks they experienced at the hands of the Heavy Bombers in the first round, drilling the booming trey with 29.5 seconds left to split their season matchup.

Valdez’s heroics preserved the 20 points and nine assists of Vince Cunanan while he wound up with 14 points. Patrick Montaño also added 14 while Shawn Umali, who made a layup that forced  overtime had 13 points and six rebounds to break their three-loss skid (7-3).

More than the big baskets though, Pirates head coach Gilbert Malabanan lauded the team’s offense that drew 29 assists.

“Kita nyo naman 29 assists, we played as a team,” Malabanan said. 

“It was a total team effort, no doubt about it.”

With Agem Miranda and Marwin Dionisio leading the charge, JRU was actually still ahead midway of the final frame, 84-75, before the Pirates, behind Valdez and Cunanan, put together eight straight points to close the gap, 84-83.

The two teams traded baskets from there before Umali and Valdez came through with the big hits.

Joshua Guiab chalked up 21 points and 10 rebounds while Miranda backstopped him with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. JL Delos Santos also tallied double-double effort of 14 points and 11 assists in a losing cause at 6-4 win-loss record.