Emilio Aguinaldo College was 0-27 against San Beda University since it joined the NCAA in 2009. They had never beaten the Red Lions — not until today.
The EAC Generals pulled it off in convincing fashion as they cruised to a 68-55 triumph over the defending champions Red Lions to get back on track in the NCAA Season 100 on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
EAC, which was coming off a pair of heartbreaks against Mapua University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, improved to 2-2 while the Red Lions fell to a similar 2-2 card.
"We're very happy that we were able to bounce back after a dismal performance against CSB. Ito first win namin against San Beda ever since sumali sa NCAA so it's a very good win kasi we needed this win," EAC head coach Jerson Cabiltes said.
"Kasi kung hindi mababaon kami sa standings eh. We're just fortunate."
[We're very happy that we were able to bounce back after a dismal performance against CSB. This is our first win against San Beda ever since we joined the NCAA so it's a very good win, we needed this win... If we didn't get it, we would've been buried in the standings. We're just fortunate.]
What EAC needed was a masterful third quarter, where the Generals outscored and outhustled the misfiring Red Lions, 27 to 12, behind their hot shooting from long range.
EAC unleashed a 22-6 run to open the third, a stretch that saw the Generals knock down five triples to establish a lead as big as 29 points, 58-29, before ending the frame up by 28, 63-35.
EAC's lead was so big that even if only converting just five points in the payoff period, the Generals still emerged victorious in the end as San Beda closed out the game with a 15-0 run.
Harvey Pagsanjan buried three triples en route to a team-high 14 points while veteran JC Luciano chipped in 13 markers after going perfect from the rainbow country with a 4-of-4 shooting clip.
Other veterans in King Gurtiza and Wilmar Oftana stepped up as well with nine points each while Axel Doromal chimed in with six markers, three boards, and six assists.
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, Ri. Calimag 3, Celzo 3, Sajonia 3, RC Calimag 3, Gonzales 1, Jalbuena 0, Tagala 0.
Quarters: 21-14, 36-23, 63-35, 68-55.
WATCH
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
