King Gurtiza and JP Maguiliano took turns to lead Emilio Aguinaldo College to a 75-65 stunner against defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA Season 99 on Sunday.
EAC has now improved to 2-0 while Letran dropped to 0-3 to open its bid for a fourth straight championship.
Gurtiza paced EAC as he dropped a career-high 23 points laced with six rebounds. three assists, and one steal while the graduating Maguliano put together a double-double effort of 18 markers and 11 boards alongside five dimes and one block.
Gurtiza waxed hot in the third, scoring seven points as part of a 9-0 run that saw the Generals take a 50-43 lead before the Knights countered with a 9-6 closing run in the frame, 56-52.
Kurt Reyson, who had been struggling offensively through the first three quarters, secured his first field goal finish of the game after giving the Knights a slim 63-60 cushion at the 3:42 mark of the fourth period.
But rookie Kyle Ochavo buried a huge triple followed by six straight points from veteran Nat Cosejo as EAC's lead ballooned to seven, 69-63.
Maguliano then made it a 73-65 advantage before Gurtiza put the nail in the coffin with a long jumper that sent the Generals to a 10-point lead and the victory.
Rookie Deo Cuajao and veterna big man Pao Javillonar were the bright spots for Letran as they poured in 12 and 11 points respectively. Reyson, on the other hand, finished with seven points on 1of-12 from the field.
EAC will return to action on Wednesday against Jose Rizal University while Letran takes on San Beda University on Friday.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
