Basti Valencia came through when Arellano University needed him most, drilling a go-ahead three-pointer with 40 seconds left as the Chiefs held off Emilio Aguinaldo College, 91-87, to remain unbeaten in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The victory moved Arellano into a tie with Colegio de San Juan de Letran atop Group B at 2-0, while EAC fell to 0-2.
The Generals, however, refused to go down without a fight.
After trailing by as many as eight points in the second quarter, EAC turned the game around with stifling defense late in the third, closing the period on an 11-2 run capped by Jude Bagay’s and-one conversion to take a slim 70-68 lead into the final frame.
Jacob Shamoda and EJ Castillo wasted no time attacking the paint in the fourth, scoring back-to-back layups in the opening 30 seconds to give the Generals a six-point cushion, 74-68.
EAC kept Arellano at bay midway through the period, with Bagay knocking down two free throws to preserve a 81-77 advantage.
But the Chiefs refused to go away.
T-Mac Ongatan buried a timely triple to tie the game at 84-all with two minutes remaining before splitting his free throws on the next possession to put Arellano ahead, 85-84.
Joseph Nunag quickly answered on the other end, converting a putback to restore EAC’s lead at 86-85.
That set the stage for Valencia.
The Arellano guard calmly knocked down a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, giving the Chiefs an 88-87 lead with 40 seconds remaining.
EAC had one final opportunity to reclaim the lead, but Ongatan put the finishing touches on the escape with a floater to seal the victory.
EAC will have two days to regroup before facing Letran on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m., while Arellano will return to action after 72 hours of rest against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Monday, Sept. 28, at 5 p.m.
Both games will be played at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
