MANILA, Philippines — Emilio Aguinaldo College head coach Gerry Esplana breathed a sigh of relief Monday night.
And why wouldn’t he? His Generals snapped out of a five-game funk following a 89-78 wire-to-wire win over the Mapua Cardinals in the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“Finally,” said EAC head coach Gerry Esplana after steering his team to just its second win in seven stints while letting out a deep breath. “What’s very clear is the aggressiveness of the players. They stuck to the system and game plan.”
“Luckily we had this big cushion. Any team can bounce back and that’s what happened to Mapua; they will not just roll over and die.”
The Generals never trailed and went on to lead by as much as 16 points, 76-60, in the fourth quarter with 3:12 remaining, thanks to a 10-0 run.
“We just needed to protect our lead in the end,” added the former PBA star guard Esplana. “I like the way they (my players) played today. The players I expected to come out delivered for us like Happi and Jamon.”
“I told them, ‘we’re down but not out. Our fate is still in our hands. It’s still up to us.’ And the players responded.”
Noube Happi posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Jan Jamon fired 21 points, 12 coming in the fourth quarter, that went with nine rebounds.
John Tayongtong led all scorers with 23 points and Sidney Omwubere also notched a double figures in points and rebounds with 10 and 15 for EAC.
“Hopefully this will be a start of a turnaround and that we can build on this win,” said Esplana.
Joseph Eriobu paced the Cardinals, who couldn’t follow up their breakthrough win last week at the expense of the San Sebastian Stags, with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Mapua, which reeled to its seventh loss against a lone win, trimmed EAC’s advantage down to six midway through the final frame before the Generals went on a telling run.