Games on Thursday
(Filoil Centre)
10 a.m. – Mapúa vs AU (Jrs)
Noon – CSB vs UPHSD (Jrs)
3 p.m. – Mapúa vs AU (Srs)
5 p.m. – CSB vs UPHSD (Srs)
EMILIO Aguinaldo College (EAC) unleashed a big run in the third quarter and needed to fend off a late San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) rally to squeeze out a 94-87 victory on Tuesday, the former’s first in NCAA Season 102 at the Filoil Centre.
Wilmar Oftana willed the EAC Generals to their first win in four starts after coming through with 18 points, half of which came in the third canto when the Generals turned a three-point halftime deficit into double-digit lead that they nursed to carve out their first win in Group B.
“We huddled in halftime and I told them we need to bounce back in the second half and pour it on because we needed this win to have confidence in ourself in our future games,” said Mr. Oftana, who also plucked nine rebounds.
Good thing they did.
EAC blew an early lead, 35-26, after the opening quarter after SSC-R went on a scoring splurge in the second canto when the latter outscored the former, 54-51, entering the break.
And then Mr. Oftana went to work with MJ Raymundo as they turned things around in their favor by erecting a 78-66 upper hand — their biggest in the match — late in the third quarter.
SSC-R tried to launch repeated attempts to steal the win but just had all the answers.
Mr. Raymundo finished with 17 points, including 10 in that critical stretch in the third.
The Stags dropped to 0-4. — Joey Villar
The scores:
First Game
EAC 94 – Oftana 18, Shanoda 18, M. Raymundo 17, H. Raymundo 12, Nunag 10, Castillo 8, Bagay 5, Ochavo 2, Sealey 2, Luna 2, Bonus 0, Coronel 0, Buen 0
SSC-R 87 – Muktimar 12, Gabat 9, Alforque 9, Castor 8, Ynot 7, Segovia 7, Acosta 7, Bacani 6, Barroga 6, Cuya 6, Ricio 4, Velasco 4, Dimaunahan 2, Cruz 0
Quarterscores: 35-26; 51-54; 78-68; 94-87