The Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals drew above average performances from three mainstays as they kept their Final Four semifinal hopes alive in the 99th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
Nat Cosejo, JP Maguilano and Ralph Robin took turns in dishing out important points that allowed them to whip the defending champion Letran Knights, 82-69, on Friday at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
Cosejo, who averages 14.27 points per game, struck with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the Generals pick up their seventh win in 12 games.
The Knights, who were held to 13 points in the first quarter, took their fourth straight loss to tally a 1-11 win-loss record in the team standings.
Unfortunately for the Knights, who got 14 points from Kobe Monje, the loss put them out of contention for the Final Four for the first time in six years.
“Siyempre unang-una, masaya kaming lahat kasi nakuha namin ‘yung panalo, pero Letran is Letran. ‘Yung heart of a champion laging nandiyan, hindi mawawala sa kanila iyon. Malaking bagay na nawala sa kanila si Javillonar, so nabawasan sila ng big man sa loob. Kung mapapansin niyo, mas marami sa amin ang mga big man na nag-dominate sa ilalim, sa rebounds at scoring,” EAC assistant coach Noy Catalan said.
Catalan called the shots in the absence of head coach Jerson Cabiltes, who was helping out with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, which had a game against the San Juan Knights in Game 2 of the MPBL North Division Semifinals in Palayan City.
Maguilano, who norms 14.09 points, unloaded seven points in the third period as EAC moved from a 46-41 lead, off his triple, which came during a 13-5 run, and handed EAC a 59-44 edge with 5:34 to go.
Robin, who averages 11.39 points per game, delivered 16 points this time around.
EAC will next meet the struggling San Beda University Red Lions on Sunday while Letran will face the Lyceum Pirates.
Scores:
EAC 82- Maguliano 20, Cosejo 18, Robin 16, Ochavo 9, Luciano 6, Quinal 5, Loristo 4, Gurtiza 2, Villaflor 2, Tolentino 0, Angeles 0, Bacud 0, Balowa 0, Umpad 0.
Letran 69- Monje 14, Santos 10, Reyson 9, Cuajao 8, Nunag 6, Bojorcelo 5, Garupil 5, Briilliantes 4, Batallier 4, Ariar 2, Fajardo 2, Bautista 0, Go 0, Jumao-as 0.
Quarterscores: 26-13; 46-39; 68-53; 82-69