Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
12 noon – LPU vs Letran (srs)
2 p.m. – SBC vs SSC (srs)
4 p.m. – JRU vs Arellano (srs)
Emilio Aguinaldo College closed out its first-round eliminations campaign on a high note as it dumped a hapless College of St. Benilde, 76-56, yesterday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Generals dominated the Blazers for most parts of the game with Sidney Onwubere and Hamadou Laminou at the center of their assault to finish the first round with three wins against six losses.
Onwubere came through with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Laminou chipped in 14 markers, eight boards and five blocks.
Remy Morada also contributed a double-double effort of 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Generals, who slowly pulled away from a 16-15 lead in the opening quarter and never looked back.
EAC led by as many as 25 points with 4:05 left in the game after Francis Munsayac and Raymund Pascua traded back-to-back triples for a 72-47 cushion.
“We wanted to end our first round with a win because it would inspire us to start strong in the second round. We need to keep it up and make a lot of adjustments,” said Laminou, who averages in double figures before entering the game.
St. Benilde absorbed its ninth straight loss in as many games to become the first team to go winless in the first round since another Blazers squad made the same misfortune in 2004 with a 0-7 card.
Carlo Young, Yankie Haruna and Christian Fajarito bannered the Blazers with 14, 13 and 11 points, respectively, but their efforts still fell short in dismantling the Generals.
Scores
EAC 76 – Onwubere 16, Laminou 14, Morada 13, Pascua 10, Munsayac 9, Corilla 5, Aguas 4, King 3, Diego 2, Neri 0, Guzman 0, Estacio 0, General 0, Mendoza 0, Serrano 0.
ST. BENILDE 56 – Young 14, Haruna 13, Fajarito 11, Belgica 4, San Juan 4, Jj Domingo 4, Castor 2, Dixon 2, Pasamante 2, Sta. Maria 0, Js Domingo 0, Pajarillaga 0.
Quarters: 16-15, 40-33, 53-43, 76-56.
