By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Emilio Aguinaldo College did not only end their losing streak to reigning champion San Beda in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
They won in dominant fashion.
It was a momentous victory for the Generals, who snapped a 27-game losing run against the Red Lions since officially joining the league in 2009.
It also evened their win-loss tally to 2-2 – the same record of their victims.
After San Beda took an early 2-0 lead, it was EAC’s game all the way as the Generals immediately dictated the tempo and maintained their pace throughout by leading as many as 29 points, 58-29, midway the third period.
It was a big bounce-back win for the Generals as they came into the game determined to redeemed themselves after a 77-55 thrashing from the College of St. Benilde Blazers last Saturday, Sept. 21.
“Last game was disappointing. Benilde got a good start and hindi na kami naka-recover. We learned from it, and pinag-aralan din namin how to defend San Beda,” he added.
Though the Red Lions controlled the boards, 52-46, the Generals were able to limit their opponents’ offensive production with only one player scoring in double figures.
They also snagged 15 points off the Red Lions’ turnovers.
San Beda attempted to turn things around in the final canto by holding EAC to only five points, but the lead was too huge, it ran out of time.
Harvey Pagsanjan led the Generals with 14 points and seven rebounds, while JC Luciano chipped in 11 points and eight boards.
Yukien Andrada, meanwhile, scored 12 points in a losing cause for the Red Lions.
The scores:
EAC 68 – Pagsanjan 14, Luciano 13, Gurtiza 9, Oftana 9, Doromal 6, Quinal 5, Ochavo 4, Bagay 4, Lucero 2, Loristo 2, Umpad 0, Angeles 0, Bacud 0.
SAN BEDA 55 – Andrada 12, Puno 9, Tagle 7, Royo 5, Payosing 3, Estacio 3, Songcuya 3, Richi Calimag 3, Celzo 3, Sajonia 3, RC Calimag 3, Gonzales 1, Jalbuena 0, Tagala 0.
Quarters: 21-14; 36-23; 63-35; 68-55.
