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The Arellano Chiefs escaped with a 63-62 victory over the Letran Knights in Monday's NCAA action. KC Cruz
Arellano University went to Keith Agovida and American Dioncee Holts down the stretch as it edged a gritty Letran, 63-62, to remain at second place in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City on Monday.
Agovida scored his team's last six points while Holts blocked a potential game-winner by Rey Publico as the Chiefs preserved the win, their sixth against two losses, that pushed them half a game away from the idle San Beda Lions, who continued to sit on top with a 6-1 (win-loss) record.
"Kieth and Dioncee made big plays in the end, they really helped us," said Arellano U coach Jerry Codinera.
Agovida finished with 14 points and five rebounds while Holts had nine points, 12 boards and two blocks including that game-saving block with seconds to go.
Jiovani Jalalon, a rookie transferee from Informatics, was flirting with a triple-double effort with 13 points, nine caroms and five assists before he fouled out with seven and a half minutes left in the game after getting slapped a technical foul for overcomplaining, which turned out his fifth and last.
Letran co-captain Kevin Racal unloaded five of his team's last seven points including a left baseline triple that gave the Knights a 62-61 lead with 1.39 minutes to go.
It turned out the last as Agovida hit what turned out the game-winning basket--a putback after his own two misses--and Holts saved the day by swatting Publico's shot.
Racal passed up his chance to emerge the game's hero twice, by dishing out to a temmate instead of taking it as the Knights reeled to their fifth defeat against two wins.
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Noube Happi helped Emilio Aguinaldo College end its losing streak with a victory over Mapua. KC Cruz
In the second game, Emilio Aguinaldo College blew hot and cold then hot again as it dominated Mapua, 89-78, to end an alarming slide.
John Tayongtong, Jan Jamon and Cameroonian Noube Happi delivered the most telling blows with 23, 21 and 17 points, respectively, to end a five-game losing skid and nail a second triumph.
The Generals went on attack mode early, racing to double-digit leads before going into the halftime break up, 43-33.
The Cardinals though struck back hard and inched their way closer, 61-54, at the end of the third before Jamon, Tayongtong and Happi responded with key baskets that doused cold water on Mapua's bid.
Mapua absorbed a seventh defeat against a lone win.
The scores:
First Game
ARELLANO 63 - Agovida 14, Jalalon 13, Pinto 9, Holts 9, Enriquez 8, Nicholls 3, Gumaru 2, Palma 2, Caperal 2, Hernandez 1, Salcedo 0, Ciriacruz 0, Bangga 0, Ortega 0
LETRAN 62 - Racal 14, Cruz 12, Nambatac 9, Ruaya 8, Publico 7, Dela Pena 4, Castro 3, Gabawan 3, Singontiko 2, Calvo 0, Tambeling 0, Apreku 0, Quinto 0
Quarters: 8-16; 31-34; 48-49; 63-62
Second Game
EAC 89- Tayongtong 23, Jamon 21, Happi 17, Onwuberre 10, Aguilar 8, Arquero 4, Mejos 3, santos 2, pascual 1, serrano 0.
Mapua 78- Eriobu 19, Biteng 16, Isit 12, Gabo 9, Estrella 7, Saitanan 6, Serrano 5, Cantos 4, Canaynay 0, Layug 0, Galoso 0, Villaenor 0.
Quarters: 24-12, 43-33, 61-54, 89-78.