EAC Generals’ JP Maguliano during a game against Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament.–NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Emilio Aguinaldo College pounced on a cold shooting Perpetual Help side, 75-67, in both squads’ opening game in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at San Juan Arena.
JP Maguliano nearly notched a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds for the Generals.
The Altas shot just 29 percent from the field including an atrocious 0-of-28 clip from the three-point area but somehow managed to tie the game early in the fourth quarter after trailing by 13.
The victory gave EAC a promising start to the season after finishing dead last the previous year with only three wins to show.
But the game also left the Generals with a lot to work on moving forward, particularly their free throw shooting. They had 34 trips to the charity stripe against the Altas but managed to just make 19 for an abysmal 55 percent.
Ralph Robin and Nat Cosejo also hit double figures for EAC with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Carlo Ferreras paced Perpetual Help with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Marcus Nitura chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Generals face defending champion Letran on Sunday while the Altas take on Lyceum on Saturday.