EAC snatches back-to-back, San Beda keeps streak

Standings as of Friday night

Games Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan

10am La Salle-Greenhills vs EAC-ICA (HS)
12nn Perpetual vs JRU (HS)
2pm CSB vs EAC
4pm Perpetual vs JRU

Emilio Aguinaldo College rode on foul shots down the stretch to secure an 89-85 victory over Mapua in Friday basketball action during the 94th Season of the NCAA tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Free throws in the last two minutes from Jerome Garcia, Sean Neri, and Renz Gonzales helped clinch back-to-back victories for the Generals after suffering four straight losses to kick off the season.

Head coach Ariel Sison highlighted their efforts in improving their shooting from the line, appreciating the effort the team put in after their disappointing 17/46 against Arellano back in July, netting a 20/28 against Mapua.

Hamadou Laminou led the charge with seventeen points, twelve rebounds, and six blocks.

The Cardinals had a chance to retake the lead with 13.5 seconds left, as CJ Cadua was hit with an unsportsmanlike foul on Denniel Aguirre, but Aguirre missed both his free throws.

Noah Lugo led Mapua with a game-high 24 points as they fell to 2-5.

In the second collegiate matchup of the day, Maui Sera Josef's breakout performance allowed Arellano to keep Jose Rizal University winless this season with a 79-70 victory.

The Las Vegas native scored a career-high seventeen points, while adding nine rebounds, a steal, and a block to lead the Chiefs.

Arellano had to withstand Jed Mendoza's outburst from the Heavy Bombers, as the guard scored fifteen points in the final period, but Jed had little support from his teammates, who could only muster just five other points. The Chiefs canceled out Jed's output with Michael Canete and Levi dela Cruz combining to score twenty points in the period.

Head coach Jerry Codinera still thinks they have a long way to go for contention, admitting to the media after the game, "Medyo ang tagal bago naming makuha yung combination sa offense and defense namin so talagang malayo pa kami."

The final collegiate game of the day was a dazzling display of the historic rivalry between San Beda and Letran.

The Red Lions needed a superb performance from AC Soberano and Robert Bolick in overtime in order to fend off the Knights, 80-76.

Soberano nailed a couple of triples during the extra five minutes, and with Letran unable to muster any offense in the final 2:16, Bolick's three free throws sandwiched around a Donald Tankoua undergoal stab in the final minute proved to be the difference for the defending champions as they extended their winning run to five straight matches.

Letran would have secured their first victory against San Beda since defeating them for the championship if not for Javee Mocon's assist to Tankoua to tie things up at 69 and force overtime.

Bolick finished with a team-high twenty points, eleven rebounds, six assists, and a couple of steals, with Tankoua contributing eleven points and thirteen rebounds.

Bong Quinto led Letran with a game-high 21 points, while also adding eleven rebounds and four assists. Fellow veteran JP Calvo added fourteen points, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

In spite of the loss, the Knights still retain third place with a 4-2 record, with a half-game lead over Perpetual.

The scores:

EAC 89 – Laminou 17, Garcia 14, Bautista 13, Natividad 12, Cadua 10, Tampoc 7, Neri 5, Gonzales 4, Diego 3, Mendoza 2, Robin 2, Maguliano 0, Bugarin 0

Mapua 85 – Lugo 24, Bonifacio 15, Victoria 11, Pelayo 11, Gamboa 8, Jabel 8, Biteng 4, Aguirre 2, Bunag 2, Serrano 0, Garcia 0

Quarterscores: 18-16; 33-39; 60-63; 89-85

Arellano 79 – Sera Josef 17, Canete 15, Alban 14, Dela Cruz 14, Segura 10, Concepcion 6, Alcoriza 3, Bayla 0, Codinera 0, Dela Torre 0, Ongolo Ongolo 0, Sacramento 0, Santos 0, Villoria 0.

JRU 70 – Mendoza 23, David 9, Estrella 7, Bordon 6, Dela Virgen 6, Mallari 6, Esguerra 5, Silvarez 4, Miranda 2, Santos 2, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 12-16; 34-36; 54-50; 79-70

San Beda 80 -- Bolick 20, Doliguez 11, Tankoua 11, Mocon 7, Oftana 6, Soberano 6, Canlas 4, Nelle 4, Presbitero 4, Tongco 3, Abuda 2, Carino 2, Cuntapay 0.

Letran 76 -- Quinto 21, Calvo 14, Ambohot 13, Balanza 11, Fajarito 10, Muyang 5, Taladua 2, Agbong 0, Balagasay 0, Batiller 0, Mandreza 0, Yu 0.

Quarters: 17-14; 35-29; 53-44; 69-69; (OT) 80-76.