Kelly Coronel caught fire from downtown as Emilio Aguinaldo College pulled off a huge 78-71 win over streaking Mapua University to bolster its playoff hopes in the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The 6-foot-4 Coronel top-scored for the Brigadiers with 24 points built on 5-of-8 from the rainbow country while also grabbing five rebounds and three steals as they improved to 5-3, forging a four-way tie at the third spot with the Red Robins, San Beda University, and La Salle Green Hills.
"Nakabawi po ako mula sa laro nu'ng nakaraan. Masaya po ako na naka-bounce back ako kasi gusto ko talagang makabawi at makatulong po sa team dahil maalat po ako last game (against Perpetual)," Coronel told GMA News Online.
"Kailangan ko po talagang mag-step up kasi si EJ may sakit tapos si Cuajao parang nawala sa laro kasi bad start po siya. So kinausap ako nila na kailangan ko talaga mag-step up."
[I was able to bounce back from my previous play. I'm happy that I was able to because I really wanted to help my team because I didn't shoot well last game... I really need to step up because EJ was sick and Cuajao had a bad start and was out of it. So they told me that I really needed to step up.]
Meanwhile, Guillian Quines was once again on point as he led La Salle Green Hills' third quarter pull away that led to a 76-54 triumph over JRU to join the four-way logjam at the third spot.
Quines dropped 12 points in the second half to make up for a slow start and finish with 17 points together with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Dale Ortega chipped in 15 markers, five boards, two dimes, one steal, and one block.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
