Kelly Coronel took charge when it mattered most.
The crafty guard fired 16 points to lead the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers past the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 60–51, on Tuesday at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Coronel caught fire in the third quarter, erupting for 14 points as the Brigadiers clamped down defensively and limited the Light Bombers to just nine points in the period. That decisive run turned a six-point halftime cushion into a 48–35 advantage entering the payoff frame.
Clint Bonus and Tristan Allam added 10 markers apiece to back up Coronel’s hot hand, helping EAC secure its first win in two outings in Group B.
CJ Satparam topscored for JRU with 15 points, but his efforts weren’t enough to stop EAC’s momentum.
The Brigadiers led by as many as 15 points in the final canto, punctuated by Allam’s layup with 1:38 remaining that stretched the gap to 58–43.
