Omandac catches fire as Valdez-less Pirates overcome Generals
At A Glance
- Jearlan Omandac stepped out of the shadows and scored 24 points, including nine in the fourth quarter to help the Pirates secure their eighth win against three losses and bolster their Final Four bid as the second round of the eliminations heats up.
Lyceum hardly felt the absence of skipper Enoch Valdez as it edged out Emilio Aguinaldo College, 81-78, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Jearlan Omandac stepped out of the shadows and scored 24 points, including nine in the fourth quarter to help the Pirates secure their eighth win against three losses and bolster their Final Four bid as the second round of the eliminations heats up.
The Tagum City native Omandac, who also collared nine rebounds, unloaded five three-pointers highlighted by back-to-back long bombs which ignited Lyceum's 9-0 run that made it 74-68.
The Pirates would then rely on their defense to shackle the Generals' trio of JP Maguliano, Kyle Ochavo and King Gurtiza.
Renz Villegas chipped in 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Alvin Penafiel and Shawn Umali added 12 and eight points, respectively.
“My team is very unpredictable, 'di mo talaga alam kung sinong puputok o hindi,” LPU Gilbert Malabanan said, whose wards missed the services of Valdez who is reportedly feeling under the weather.
“Lahat ng players ko I trusted them with all of my heart, pag once na pinasok ko mga iyan may gagawing maganda yan,” he added.
Lyceum's triumph was a revenge of sorts after EAC put the first dent on the Pirates' erstwhile pristine 6-0 record.
Maguliano, who finished with 13 points, tried to push for an extra period, but unfortunately his attempt was short in the dying seconds.
Nat Cosejo topped the Generals with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Ochavo aided him with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a losing cause.
EAC suffered its fifth loss in 11 games.