The La Salle Greenhills Greenies leaned on their deep bench and late-game composure to outlast the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers, 91-89, in a nail-biting showdown of the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball tournament on Saturday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Josef Calo-oy powered the Greenies with 25 points as they notched their second consecutive victory in Group B, giving coach Renren Ritualo’s squad a strong early boost in their campaign.
The Brigadiers appeared poised for an upset after seizing an 89-86 lead in the final minute. But the Greenies showed grit down the stretch. Javi Jugo scored on a crucial inside play, before Patrick Pasinos converted, and Jugo later split his free throws in the last eight seconds to swing momentum back to La Salle Greenhills.
EAC had one final chance, but time ran out before they could mount another response.
James Castro led the Brigadiers with a game-high 26 points in the narrow defeat.
