Emilio Aguinaldo College pulled off one thing it doesn’t get to do often—score back-to-back wins.
“That’s what we are actually preparing for, to get consecutive wins,” said coach Ariel Sison after the Generals held off the Arellano Chiefs, 85-79, to claim solo third place in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“It’s something that we’re unable to do in the NCAA and we prepared hard to get that,” added Sison. “We’re thankful enough to finally get it.”
Despite losing Hamadou Laminou to a knee injury late in the first quarter, the Generals managed to draw firepower from Sidney Onwubere, who pitched in 17 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
The Generals rose to 3-2 behind idle leaders Lyceum (6-0) and San Beda (5-1).
In the second game, St. Benilde came back from 15 points down to get past Mapua, 74-69, and snap a four-game losing skid.
JJ Domingo posted a career-high 24 points, while Clement Leutcheu tallied a double-double of 14 markers and 17 rebounds for the Blazers.
“It took out all of the fatigue we’re feeling,” said coach TY Tang after his Blazers erased a 41-56 deficit in the third quarter. “It’s really the character that we’re trying to build up.”
EAC took hold of an 11-point lead, 79-68, with an Onwubere trey with 3:23 remaining, before Kent Salado helped the Chiefs pull within striking distance.
The Chiefs came as close as two points, 81-79, after a pair of Lervin Flores freebies with 49.2 ticks left, but miscues in the closing seconds allowed the Generals to preserve the lead.