Though it was a frustrating season, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals made sure to end their season on a high note, doing just enough to fend off the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas, 83-81, Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“At least hindi tayo napahiya,” said second-year Generals head coach Ariel Sison, as the Generals had to go through the season without their anchor Hamadou Laminou.
The Generals ended their season with a 7-11 slate, good for seventh place in the standings.
And it was a proper send-off for seniors Sidney Onwubere and Francis Munsayac. Onwubere finished the game with 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and a block. Munsayac was not fielded in the game, allowing Sean Neri to play his season-high 28 minutes.
“Masaya ako kasi halos lahat nag-contribute. Lahat may ginawa. Actually, wala na yung focus ko sa laro. Gusto ko lang manalo,” said Onwubere.
The Generals had to gut it out in the game, as the Altas gave them a good fight.
With EAC up by as much as 11 points, 73-62, in the final frame, Jonathan Yuhico converted back-to-back triples to rally Perpetual back. A find by Gab Dagangon to Prince Eze underneath with 1:42 left sliced the lead to just five with 1:42 left.
Jerome Garcia tried to stop the bleeding with a sidewinder, but free throws by AJ Coronel and Eze gave EAC a scare, 79-82, with 11.2 ticks on the clock. A split on the stripe by Neri should have sealed the win for the Generals, but Garcia fouled Coronel from beyond-the-arc with 1.6 seconds remaining. After converting on the first two free throws, Coronel intentionally missed the second one. Eze overcooked the putback as time expired.
“Yun yung focus namin this season pero yun nga. At least, nalagpasan namin yung record namin last year. Hopefully, for the guys, makatulong to for next year,” added Onwubere.
Garcia led EAC With 22 points, spiked by four triples. Jethro Mendoza added 17 markers, while Rustan Bugarin added 12 points and four rebounds.
Eze paced the Altas with 21 points and nine rebounds. GJ Ylagan added 17 markers.
Perpetual take on the San Sebastian Stags on Thursday, October 19, at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
EAC 83 – Garcia 22, J. Mendoza 17, Onwubere 15, Bugarin 12, Bautista 6, Diego 6, Neri 3, Tampoc 2, Corilla 0, I. Mendoza 0.
UPHSD 81 – Eze 21, Ylagan 17, Yuhico 13, Coronel 10, Dagangon 7, Lucente 4, Pido 4, Tamayo 3, Sadiwa 2.
Quarterscores: 25-19, 37-39, 64-59, 83-81.
