NCAA shocker: EAC breaks Letran’s 7-game win streak

EAC Generals celebrate their win over the erstwhile undefeated Letran Knights in NCAA 91. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net

Take down that House of Chaos.

Emilio Aguinaldo College positioned the guns and set fire on the fabled House of Chaos of Colegio De San Juan De Letran, 83-69, Friday in the NCAA Seniors Basketball Tournament Friday at the San Juan Arena.

The second half solely belonged to the revved-up Generals outscoring the Knights, 55-33, in the final two quarters as they snapped the Knights’ seven-game win streak.

READ: NCAA: Letran escapes Lyceum for 7-0 start

Once the fourth quarter started, the Generals had their guns blazing, putting the Knights at their mercy with a 21-8 run. Jose Morada knocked down a triple-and-one that destroyed the Letran fortress with three minutes left in the game and a 73-60count.

Generals head coach Andy De Guzman said the team had to play above its usual efforts in order to defeat Letran.

“We shouldn’t play ‘double-hard’ against Letran, we can’t beat them with that kind of effort, we had to play ‘triple-hard,'” De Guzman said

Letran had to play without the guidance of head coach Aldin Ayo who was serving his one-game suspension.

READ: Letran coach Aldin Ayo, Mapua’s Atoy Co get one-game ban

Mark Cruz tried to salvage Letran as he hit a triple with 1:32 remaining to cut the lead to eight, 74-66, but it was all for naught as the Generals easily broke the ranks of the Knights’ defense with Sidney Onwubere closing the game on a personal 7-0 run.

Lamidou Hamadou asserted his presence for EAC in the paint with 20 points, 24 rebounds, 13 coming off the offensive glass, and four blocks.

Morada had his own double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds while Onwubere pitched in 18 points and eight boards for the 2-5 Generals.

Kevin Racal led the 7-1 Knights with 18 points, while Cruz added 16. IDL