Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Emilio Aguinaldo College did just enough to hold off Perpetual, 83-81, and finish off its NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament campaign with a victory Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Jerome Garcia unfurled 12 of his 22 points in the payoff period, and added four rebounds, while Jethro Mendoza had 17 markers, three assists, two boards, and two steals.
Sidney Onwubere also got a fitting farewell as he nabbed 15 points, nine rebounds, four dimes, a steal, and a block in his final collegiate game.
“I’m happy because everyone contributed and did their roles,” said the senior forward.
EAC held a six-point lead, 78-72, courtesy of a Sean Neri undergoal stab with 3:34 remaining, but Perpetual fought back behind Prince Eze down the stretch.
Altas got a chance to inch closer when Garcia fouled AJ Coronel on his three-point attempt with 1.6 ticks remaining. Coronel made his first two attempts to cut the deficit down to two, 83-81, and intentionally missed his third to allow Eze to grab the rebound. Unfortunately, the Nigerian big man botched his putback as the Generals escaped with the victory.
“At least, we could hold our heads up high,” said coach Ariel Sison whose side snapped its five-game losing streak to wind up with a 7-11 record.
Eze fired 21 points and nine rebounds for Perpetual, which stumbled to its seventh straight loss to fall down to 4-13.
GJ Ylagan got 17 markers, five boards, and four assists, while Jonathan Yuhico had 13 in the loss.
The Scores:
EAC 83 – Garcia 22, J. Mendoza 17, Onwubere 15, Bugarin 12, Bautista 6, Diego 6, Neri 3, Tampoc 2, Corilla 0, I. Mendoza 0.
PERPETUAL 81 – Eze 21, Ylagan 17, Yuhico 13, Coronel 10, Dagangon 7, Lucente 4, Pido 4, Tamayo 3, Sadiwa 2.
Quarters: 25-19, 37-39, 64-59, 83-81.