Pirates claim share of NCAA lead; Generals end Knights’ miseries

Vince Cunanan (left) sneaks in two points for the Pirates. DELA CRUZ

Emilio Aguinaldo College had the honor of snuffing out Letran’s four-peat aspiration in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament as the Generals scored an 82-69 ripping of the Knights, doing it with their coach at home, even as Lyceum claimed a piece of the elimination round lead after clipping Mapua.

JP Maguliano scored 20 points to lead the Generals to their seventh win in 12 games while showing the Knights the showers with still six games left in the elimination round by dealing them their 11th defeat against a win.

Assistant coach Gonzalo Catalan Jr. called the shots perfectly for the Generals, with Nat Cosejo contributing 18 points that went with 10 rebounds that completed a 1-2 punch for EAC.

“He (coach Jerson Cabiltes) is not feeling well today, and all he told us (before the game) was that we needed to win this one in order to keep up with the leaders,” Catalan said in Filipino.

Cabiltes, though, will be present on Sunday when the Generals start their last push for the Final Four against San Beda.

Meanwhile, Lyceum tied the Cardinals at the top after an 86-82 win later.

The troika of Patrick Montano, Shawn Umali and JM Bravo scored 18, 17 and 12 points, respectively for Lyceum.

Clint Escamis’ 25-point outburst, however, was put to waste for the Cardinals. Jopet Soriano also scattered 13 points. INQ