Sidney Onwubere vs AJ Coronel. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Emilio Aguinaldo College eked out a 61-57 victory over Perpetual to end the first round of NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament on a winning note Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Sidney Onwubere willed the Generals twith 21 points, 17 rebounds, and three assists as they stopped their three-game skid to rise to 4-5.
Francis Munsayac also went for 16 markers, three assists, and two boards, while Jerome Garcia had eight points and six rebounds in the win.
“To be honest, we gave our hearts in this game. Since this is the last game in the first round, I told the players that we cannot allow them to beat us so we really have to win this game,” said coach Ariel Sison.
Garcia drilled a three at the 4:52 mark of the payoff period to put EAC up, 50-47, but that proved to be the last field goal for the Generals, who showing poise from the line with their 11-of-12 clip.
Perpetual’s three costly turnovers in the final minute also helped EAC’s cause as Munsayac put his crew ahead, 59-52.
Jack Hao and Rommel Mangalino still kept the Altas in the game, cutting the deficit to two, 59-57 with 9.4 ticks remaining, but Munsayac drained two more free throws to ice the game for good.
“I’m relieved because I told them that we need to overcome close games like this. We can’t settle for moral victories now,” said Sison. “At least, we’ll come into the second round that we’re confident that we can win.”
Prince Eze topped Perpetual (3-6) with 14 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks, while Gab Dagangon had 11 markers and seven boards, but committed five of the Altas’ 19 turnovers.
The Scores:
EAC 61 – Onwubere 21, Munsayac 16, Garcia 8, Bugarin 4, Diego 3, Mendoza 3, Bautista 2, Pascua 2, Tampoc 2, Corilla 0, Guzman 0, Mendoza 0.
PERPETUAL 57 – Eze 14, Dagangon 11, Coronel 9, Pido 6, Ylagan 4, Clemente 3, Hao 3, Sadiwa 3, Mangalino 2, Tamayo 2, Casas 0, Lucente 0, Yuhico 0.
Quarters: 19-12, 33-27, 43-39, 61-57.