MANILA – Jethro Mendoza scored on a game-winner as the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals pulled off an 84-82 upset over Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball on Friday night at San Juan Arena.
After seeing its double-digit advantage in the second half evaporates to an 82-all score, Mendoza scored the go-ahead basket coming off a Marwin Taywan pass with 1.5 seconds left to surge the Generals ahead for good.
Mendoza and Taywan finished the match with 21 points apiece, while Kyle Carlos and JP Meguliano added 11 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Generals improved to 1-1 slate.
Holding to a slim lead at the half, the Generals went berserk in the third period behind Taywan and Mendoza to build a 64-46 edge but the Pirates went on a counter run to take a 77-76 lead.
Mendoza though connected on back-to-back triples to give the Generals a five-point edge but Nino Ibanez and JC Marcelino were able to tie the score for the Pirates with under a minute left.
“Actually, that is what we are doing, yung visualization. If you want a chance to win, i-visualize niyo muna. Inembrace naman nila ‘yung ganung attitude,” Generals head coach Oliver Bunyi.
Meanwhile, Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights leaned on the career game of Jerrick Balanza to score an 81-72 victory over the Arellano University Chiefs.
Balanza finished the match with 31 points, with 13 coming in the final quarter, while Jeo Ambohot added double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds for the 1-1 Knights. Rence Alcoriza had 19 markers for the 0-2 Chiefs./PN
