In his five years with the EAC Generals, Francis Munsayac has experienced a number of heartbreaking losses. But none of those losses can compare to the defeat they experienced in their home floor, the EAC Sports and Cultural Center, Thursday evening against the Lyceum Pirates.
For six games, the Pirates have been unstoppable, winning by an average margin of 21.0 points per contest. But the Generals — a team that were without anchor Hamadou Laminou due to a torn ACL — were fearless, keeping pace with the league-leaders.
“Obviously talagang fired-up kami, sobrang saya, sobrang taas ng intensity namin,” recalled fifth-year floor general Francis Munsayac.
Munsayac was the main protagonist for the Generals, setting his career-high 26 points. However, with Lyceum up by just two points, 93-95, with seven ticks left, the 5-foot-5 guard slipped, leading to a wide-open lay-up for Jaycee Marcelino that served as the game’s dagger.
“Yun talagang pumasok sa sarili ko, sayang talaga. Hindi ko rin naman ginusto yun, nadulas lang talaga,” Munsayac said. “Sobrang pagod na rin talaga kanina.”
“Sabi ko, wide open si Jerome [Garcia]. What he’s telling me is nadulas,” stated second-year head coach Ariel Sison.
“Wala na, di na ako nagsalita. Ganun talaga yun e.”
Still, the 93-97 loss is the lowest margin of victory of Lyceum. And Munsayac hopes that their effort made the Emilians in attendance proud.
“Yun nga, nung natalo kami, sabi ng mga teammates ko sa akin, ‘don’t lose hope, keep your head up kasi Ci, lahat ng nakalaban nila, tambak lahat.’
“Sa amin walang Laminou, nag-graduate si Sidney [Onwubere], nag-graduate si [Jeric] Diego, ganun pa rin nangyari sa amin. Sabi nila, be positive. Hindi naman namin napahiya yung EAC community,” Munsayac declared.
“Ang naging inspiration namin, yung nangyari kay Laminou kasi e. Alam niyo naman na he’s already out of the season so sabi ko sa mga naiwan, let’s dedicate this game to Laminou. There’s no reason for us to be down. Kailangan buhay pa rin momentum namin, yung morale namin, mataas pa rin,” Sison added.
“Kung matalo kami rito, buhay pa naman e. May ibang kalaban pa naman e. Ganun talaga ang basketball, hindi puwedeng lahat, makukuha mo.”
But based on the response the Generals got after the game, it’s safe to say that Munsayac and the Generals still have the Emilians on their side.
