Pirates survive rough seas, nail semis berth

MANILA, Philippines — Lyceum of the Philippines U gunner Ato Barba took extra shots in their practice that ended late Thursday in preparation to what he believed would make or break their Final Four bid.

Good thing he did.

Finding the right time to explode, Barba buried all nine shots he took including five booming triples to lift the Pirates to an 82-81 victory over the St. Benilde Blazers yesterday and straight into the NCAA Season 100 Final Four at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Barba ended up with a game-high 27 points and came just two free throw misses away from perfection. But it was enough to seal LPU a 10-8 record and a spot to the semis where it will make its third straight appearance.

There, LPU will battle Mapua (14-3), assuming the latter beats Arellano U today at the Cuneta Astrodome, or CSB (14-4), which will seize No. 1 if it ends up tied with Mapua due to a higher quotient.

“Off kasi ako last game kaya sinabi ko sa sarili ko kailangang bumawi,” said an ecstatic Barba. “Trinabaho ko naman ito, nag extra kami kagabi, halos 10 p.m. na kami natapos.”

LPU also survived a mammoth 20-point, 16-rebound performance from Allen Liwag.

In the second game, Emilio Aguinaldo College turned back Jose Rizal U, 73-66, to finish fifth with a 9-9 mark.

The Bombers wound up last with a 4-14 card.