Emilio Aguinaldo College barged into the current Final Four picture after taking a crucial victory over the slumping Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 68-58, in NCAA Season 100 on Wednesday.
The Generals were dominant right from the get-go while the Knights got a rare off shooting from Jimboy Estrada and Deo Cuajao as EAC cruised to solo fourth at 7-7.
Letran, meanwhile, was sent crashing to a second loss in a row to go 7-8.
Harvey Pagsanjan led the balanced offense for the Generals with 13 points together with three rebounds, five assists, and one steal while Kyle Ochavo provided the energy and finished with 10 markers, three boards, three dimes, and one swat.
“Buti na lang nanalo kami. The game plan was perfectly executed by the boys—-offensively and defensively,” EAC head coach Jerson Cabiltes said.
“So we move on to the next game, wala namang kwenta ‘tong panalo na ‘to if we will not win the next four games.”
EAC pulled away for good in the second half with Pagsanjan, Ochavo, King Gurtiza, and Nico Quinal leading their rampage from downtown as the Generals took a 54-45 lead before the payoff period.
EAC big man Gelo Loristo then took advantage of a depleted Letran frontcourt with Kevin Santos nursing a right shoulder injury while Pao Javillonar was saddled with fouls. He first sank two freebies before completing a three-point play for a 62-47 spread.
The Generals never looked back since then with the Knights going sour on their shooting in the final period, making just three of their 14 attempts.
EAC managed to pull off the key victory despite a low scoring from veteran King Gurtiza, who only tallied nine points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field.
Estrada still top-scored Letran with 10 points he all dropped in the second half while Joseph Nunag churned out the same amount of points. Cuajao, who once dropped a scorching career-high 34 points against San Sebastian, was limited to just nine today.
Scores:
EAC 68 – Pagsanjan 13, Ochavo 10, Loristo 9, Gurtiza 9, Oftana 8, Quinal 6, Jacob 4, Ednilag 3, Doromal 2, Lucero 2, Bacud 2, Bagay 0, Luciano 0.
Letran 58 – Estrada 10, Nunag 10, Cuajao 9, Monje 7, Miller 6, Montecillo 5, Javillonar 4, Baliling 3, Jumao-As 2, Dimaano 2, Delfino 0.
Quarters: 15-11, 33-29, 54-45, 68-58.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
