Lyceum overcame a persistent San Sebastian, 93-85, to finally end a three-game losing spell and boost its Final Four campaign in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Renz Villegas exploded with a career-high 25 points on a 9-of-11 clip from the field to anchor the Pirates, who finally jumped into the winning column and improved their win-loss tally to 7-8.

The victory not only avenged Lyceum’s 95-93 first-round defeat to San Sebastian last Sept. 11 but also tied them with Letran at fifth place.

Villegas, who saw action in 28 minutes, highlighted his performance with three of the team’s four triples, while dishing out three assists and two steals.

Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan, though, not only lauded Villegas’ efforts, but also the overall performance of his stalwarts.

“Si Renz, talaga namang siya yung consistent samin as of now, but I still believe in my players, hindi lang sa kanya. It’s also a total team effort,” he said.

John Barba was also splendid offensively by unloading 20 points, even as Simon Penafiel contributed 10 points despite playing for only 14 minutes.

After trailing 17-16 in the opening quarter, Lyceum asserted its might and took a commanding 40-33 lead at the half before ripping the game wide open with a 74-50 cushion at the start of the payoff period.

But the Stags refused to give up without a fight, cutting their deficit to only 10, 82-72, following a Paeng Are triple with 2:20 to go.

However, it turned out to be San Sebastian’s last stand as Lyceum held on to that lead until the final buzzer.

Tristan Felebrico scored 18 points, Nikko Aguilar added 14, and Are and Raymart Escobido chipped in 12 points apiece in a losing effort for the Stags, who fell to a 4-11 card and kissed their Final Four bid goodbye.

Later in the day, Tmac Ongotan and Basti Valencia teamed up in the fourth quarter as Arellano University turned back a valiant Jose Rizal University, 81-75, Tuesday to remain in Final Four conversation with a 6-9 record.

Ongotan poured in 10 of his 17 points while Valencia scored eighth of his game-high 25 in the final canto to power the Chiefs to the victory and a share of seventh spot with the University of Perpetual Help Altas.

More importantly, Arellano could still gatecrash into the semis assuming it could sweep its last three outings and if the stars aligned.

The Bombers were defused at 4-11.

The scores:

First Game

LYCEUM 93 – Villegas 25, Barba 20, Peñafiel 10, Montaño 9, Guadaña 8, Panelo 6, Cunanan 4, Versoza 4, Daileg 3, Aviles 2, Moralejo 2, Caduyac 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 85 – Felebrico 18, Aguilar 14, Are 12, Escobido 12, Velasco 6, R. Gabat 5, L. Gabat 4, Pascual 4, Barroga 3, Suico 3, Lintol 2, Cruz 2, Maliwat 0, Ramilo 0, Ricio 0.

Quarters: 16-17; 40-33; 71-50; 93-85.

Second Game

ARELLANO 81 – Valencia 25, Ongotan 17, Geronimo 12, Capulong 10, Camay 9, Vinoya 2, Borromeo 2, Hernal 2, Miller 1, Libang 1, Abiera 0, Flores 0.

JRU 77 – Guiab 20, Argente 15, Barrera 14, Raymundo 9, Bernardo 6, De Leon 5, Ramos 3, De Jesus 3, Sarmiento 2, Panapanaan 0, Pangilinan 0, Mosqueda 0, Ferrer 0.

Quarters: 15-24; 41-40; 57-62; 81-77.