MANILA – Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals barged into the win column of NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball with a bang. They upset top-seed College of St. Benilde Blazers, 80-75, on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
Trailing for most part of the game and down 65-70 late in the fourth quarter, the Generals leaned on the exploits of Nathaniel Cosejo and Ilonggo Ralph Bajon to take a 78-75 lead with 48 seconds left.
Following a missed conversion by the Blazers on the next possession, the Seaosn 98 host Generals iced their maiden victory on two free throws by John Paul Maguliano with eight seconds left.
Cosejo, a former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers role player, finished with career-high 24 points to go with nine rebounds as the Generals notched its first win after losing all of its nine first round matches.
Bajon chipped in career-best 16 markers along with three rebounds and two steals, while Adrian Balowa and Allen Liwag ended up with 10 points each, while Maguliano had 10 rebounds to go with six points for the Generals.
Will Gozum tallied 19 points and nine rebounds, while Rob Nayve and James Pasturan ended up with 13 and 11 markers, respectively, as the no. 1 ranked Blazers dropped to 7-2.
In the first game, NCAA Season 97 runner ups Mapua University Cardinals (2-8) tallied its first winning of the season following 62-59 decision over no. 2 seed Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates (7-3).
Trailing 42-48 after three quarters, the Cardinals flipped the switch in the fourth period behind Ilonggo Jeric James Pido, Paolo Hernandez and Warren Bonifacio to open their second-round campaign on a high note.
“Pinaka-motivation talaga namin huwag nang lumayo pa, huwag nang tumingin sa standing namin,” said Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara. “Gawin na lang mga assignments namin. Hindi talaga madali ang season ngayon, pahirapan ang panalo.”
Pido led the Cardinals with 11 points and two assists, Bonifacio had a double-double outing of 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Rence Nocum and Joaqui Garcia also scored 10 markers each.
BOX SCORE:
EAC 80 – Cosejo 24, Bajon 16, Balowa 10, Liwag 10, Maguliano 6, Cosa 5, Dominguez 5, Ad. Doria 4, Luciano 0, Quinal 0, Tolentino 0, An. Doria 0.
CSB 75 – Gozum 19, Nayve 13, Pasturan 11, Corteza 8, Oczon 6, Sangco 6, Lim 6, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Marcos 2, Mara 0, Davis 0, Lepalam 0, Flores 0.
Quarterscores: 19-18, 39-40, 57-59, 80-75./PN
