John Marco Tayongtong dropped a layup with 1.2 seconds remaining as Emilio Aguinaldo College nipped College of St. Benilde, 85-83, to boost its Final Four hopes in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Tayongtong eluded Travis Jonson then banked in the winner off Mark Romero as the Generals raised their record to 8-7, just off the 8-6 mark of the idle fourth-running San Sebastian.
“They were attacking us inside the paint because our big men were in foul trouble. But again, John bailed us out,” said head coach Gerry Esplana as EAC won for the fourth time in five outings.
The Blazers absorbed a third straight defeat, their ninth overall in 14 games.
Defending champion San Beda (13-2) has already secured a semifinal slot with Letran (11-3) and Perpetual Help (11-5) assured of the other qualifying berths.
Tayongtong repeated his heroics in their first-round encounter with the Blazers, where he also single-handedly carried the Generals in the closing minutes.
The 5-foot-6 court general picked up where Cameroonian Cebric Happi Noube left off, scoring eight of his 17 points in the fourth quarter capped by a decisive layup.
Noube finished with 20 points but was saddled by fouls late in the third when the Blazers, led by Paolo Taha’s incursions, hit 13 free throws in the period.
Taha, who had nine free throws during that span, also had 20 points before cramps hit him near the end of the fourth.
In the second game, Jose Rizal University kept its semis bid alive after a 73-56 whipping of also-ran Mapua.
The Bombers rose to 6-8 while dealing the Cardinals their 14th loss in 15 outings.
The scores:
First Game
EAC 85—Happi 20, Tayongtong 17, King 16, Arquero 12, Paguia 7, Jamon 6, Morada 5, Hiole Manga 2, Munsayac 0, Onwubere 0.
ST. BENILDE 83—Taha 20, Jonson 13, Romero 13, Grey 12, Bartolo 6, Ongteco 6, Garcia 6, Sinco 5, Saavedra 2, Argamino 0, Carlos 0.
Quarters: 12-18, 37-32, 61-59, 85-83
Second Game
JRU 73—Mabulac 19, Paniamogan 18, Benavides 10, Dela Paz 9, Abanto 8, Sanchez 5, Lasquety 2, Salaveria 2, Grospe 0.
MAPUA 56—Brana 13, Magsigay 11, Saitanan 9, Isit 6, Eriobu 6, Ighalo 4, Biteng 3, Gabo 2, Cantos 2, Magtoto 0.
Quarters: 26-16, 40-32, 56-42, 73-56