Chiefs repulse Generals, join 3-way tie for NCAA lead

HIGH-LEAPING Happi Noube of EAC blocks Keith Agovida of Arellano at the height of the Generals’ furious fightback in the fourth quarter. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Playing with a ferocity rarely seen in past seasons, Arellano is off to one of its finest starts in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Levi Hernandez tallied 20 points as the Chiefs, brandishing a lethal run-and-gun game, waylaid the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 80-73, Monday for their second successive win at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

American rookie Dioncee Holts dished out another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while John Pinto contributed 11 points, five assists and six boards for the Chiefs, who moved into a tie for the lead with San Beda and Perpetual Help.

The Chiefs ran the fastbreak at every opportunity, scoring 18 points in transition, but needed a solid defensive stand in the end when their offense sputtered.

“There were distractions in the endgame, particularly with the calls of the referee,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera. “We tried to keep a positive attitude.”

Later, Jose Rizal U leaned on the clutch shooting of Bernabe Teodoro to down St. Benilde, 69-61, for its first victory of the season.

Teodoro nailed a triple with 2:06 remaining to extend the lead to eight points and take the fight out of the Blazers, who absorbed their second loss.

The Chiefs were slapped two technical fouls, including one on Codiñera, in the final minutes that helped the Generals get back into the game after trailing by 14 early in the fourth quarter.

Jan Jamon buried his fifth triple of the game to put the Generals within 74-77 with 1:23 left. But the Generals were forced into a shot-clock violation on their next possession, and Gio Jalalon and Holts made cushion free throws to seal the win.

The scores:

First Game

ARELLANO 80—Hernandez 20, Holts 15, Pinto 11, Jalalon 7, Caperal 7, Agovida 5, Bangga 4, Enriquez 4, Ciriacruz 3, Gumaru 2, Salcedo 2. EAC 73—Jamon 20, Happi 17, Tayongtong 10, Aguilar 6, Arquero 6, Onwubere 3, King 3, Serrano 3, Santos 2, Saludo 2, Mejos 2.

Quarters: 20-20, 43-30, 67-55, 80-73

Second Game

JRU 69—Mabulac 16, Teodoro 11, Sanchez 8, Paniamogan 8, Abdul-Wahab 6, Benavides 6, Asuncion 6, Saavedra 5, Lasquite 3, Balagtas 0.

ST. BENILDE 61—Saavedra 15, Taha 11, Grey 9, Romero 7, Ongteco 5, Deles 4, Jonson 3, Bartolo 3, Nayve 2, Argamino 2, Sinco 0, Altamirano 0.

Quarters: 14-13, 41-26, 60-45, 69-61