By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Darrell Shane Menina showed his experience in the endgame as Arellano University Chiefs defeated Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 63-58, at the start of NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 53-55 with over three minutes left, Menina connived with Neil Tolentino and Joshua Abastillas to give the Chiefs a 59-55 lead before the Generals cut it to 58-59 via a Ralph Robin three-pointer.
Menina, however, showed nerves of steel with two freebies to make it 61-58 and, after a triple miss by the Generals, Menina knocked down two more free throws to seal the win for Arellano.
Menina, who played for Mapua Cardinals in NCAA and National University in UAAP before his move to the Chiefs, finished with 15 points, five rebounds, one assists and a steal for Arellano.
Axel Doromal and Tolentino also hit double-digits in offense with 13 and 10 markers, respectively, while rookie center Cade Flores had a near double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds.
“I’m a little bit surprised. Pero alam ko na ‘yung team ngayon di ka papabayaan hanggang dulo – lalaban yan. ‘Yung present lineup namin, everybody wants to prove something, so up to the last minute trabaho lang sila ng trabaho,” said Arellano head coach Cholo Martin.
Allen Liwag had a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds while Nat Cosejo chipped in 10 markers and six boards as the season-host Generals opened the season with a bitter loss.
In the second game, Season 97 runner-ups Mapua University Cardinals renewed its mastery over San Beda University with a 66-55 victory to spoil the coaching debut of Red Lions’ Yuri Escueta.
The Cardinals, which lost to Letran Knights in last season’s finale, has been in control since the opening quarter and their lead ballooned to its largest at 65-46 via a three-point play by Arvin Gamboa late in the fourth quarter.
Gamboa spearheaded the offense for the Cardinals with 12 points, while Carl Bryan Lacap and Enrico Joaquin Garcia contributed 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
ARELLANO 62 — Menina 15, Doromal 13, Tolentino 10, Flores 9, Mantua 5, Oftana 3 Mallari 2, Abastillas 2, Tapampas 2, Oliva 2, Sunga 0.
EAC 58 — Liwag 12, Cosejo 10, Maguilano 9, Gurtiza 8, Umpad 8, Luciano 4, Tolentino 4, Robin 3, Bajon 0, Balowa 0, Ad. Dorja 0, An. Dorja 0.
Quarterscores: 17-14, 33-35, 46-47, 63-58./PN
