Surging Emilio Aguinaldo College will look to extend its hot start when it collides with Jose Rizal University while Mapua University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will eye to recover from losses on Wednesday in NCAA Season 99.
Tip-off for the Generals and Heavy Bombers is at 4 p.m. with EAC hoping to add another win to their unbeaten 2-0 slate while the Cardinals and the Blazers will lock horns in the opening salvo at 2 p.m.
EAC is coming into the game with a morale boost, especially after dealing defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran a 75-65 defeat during their Sunday encounter.
JP Maguliano and King Gurtiza are tipped to lead the way anew for EAC.
The graduating Maguliano led the way with 24 points and nine rebounds in their opening game against Perpetual before posting a double-double effort of 14 markers and 11 rebounds against Letran. He has averages of 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over their first two assignments.
Gurtiza, who wasn't able to finish last season's campaign after incurring a suspension from the school, made sure to display his impact as he dropped a career-high 23 points to pace the Generals in their upset of the Knights.
Their mettle will be tested anew against a talented JRU side that is also coming off a victory over the weekend.
The Heavy Bombers turned back the Mapua Cardinals, 70-61, with rookie Patrick Ramos and veteran gunner Agem Miranda leading the charge.
Miranda is currently leading the NCAA in scoring, with an average of 21 points per game, including a big 31-point explosion in a loss to Benilde. He also scored 17 and 15 points in JRU's other two contests.
Ramos, meanwhile, had a huge breakout performance against Mapua, in a game where he scored 18 points on 9-for-10 shooting. For the season, he is shooting 12-for-15 (80-percent) in three games.
In the first game, meanwhile, Benilde and Mapua are looking to regroup following tough losses.
The Blazers, who now stand at 1-2 in the team ladder, are fresh off an 83-77 loss to San Beda University while the Cardinals are reeling from that loss to JRU that sent them to their first defeat of the season following a 2-0 start.
Benilde is expected to lean on NCAA Season 98 MVP Will Gozum, who posted norms of 16.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks in two games while Mapua has gotten a huge lift from transferee Clint Escamis, who is averaging 15.0 points, 6.33 assists, and 4.0 steals per game so far this season.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
