Emilio Aguinaldo College picked up its third win of the season after escaping Arellano University, 63-62, in overtime in NCAA Season 98 action on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Center.
EAC’s Mac Balowa and Ralph Bajon, who each finished with 12 markers, contributed some big shots in the fourth quarter and overtime, respectively, as they closed the season out with a 3-15 record.
JP Maguliano led the Generals with 18 points and six rebounds while Nat Cosejo logged a double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists.
Arellano, led by Axel Doromal’s career-high 25 points, dropped to 7-11.
The Chiefs led 27-20 at the break behind solid performances from Doromal (eight points) and Cade Flores (seven points, five rebounds). They extended that lead to a high of 11 points, 37-26, early in the third quarter before EAC closed back to within six, 41-35, at the end of the period.
The Generals continued to battle in the fourth as they reclaimed the lead at 51-50 thanks to a jumper from Balowa and a putback from Cosejo. They had possession of the ball with 30 seconds left before a disastrous play where they coughed the ball up and got whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul while trying to stop the Chiefs’ transition attack.
Doromal sank two free throws for a 52-51 lead but Flores missed a pair of free throws, though the Chiefs managed to recover the ball. Doromal then knocked down two more charities for a three-point advantage, 54-51.
But Balowa gave EAC a lifeline with a late triple that sent the game into overtime.
Despite the efforts of Doromal in OT, Bajon made two big shots and Maguliano proved steady from the line as the Generals escaped, 63-62.
The two teams had already been previously eliminated from Final Four contention.
The scores:
EAC 63 - Maguliano 18, Cosejo 14, Balowa 12, Bajon 12, Tolentino 3, Dominguez 2, Luciano 1, Bacud 1, Cosa 0, An. Doria 0, Umpad 0, Quinal 0, Angeles 0.
Arellano 62 - Doromal 25, Flores 12, Tolentino 5, Oliva 4, Mantua 2, Mallari 2, Oftana 0, Sunga 0, Abastillas 0.
Quarters: 13-15, 20-27, 35-41, 54-54, 63-62 (OT).
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
