EAC shocks Benilde to halt two-game losing skid

Emilio Aguinaldo College scored a come-from-behind win against College of St. Benilde, 86-78, in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Thursday.

The Generals chopped down a 19-point deficit en route to the victory that stopped their two-game losing skid.

“‘Yong adjustments namin, talagang nagsimula sa depensa. Kinailangan talaga namin dumiin sa depensa para makuha ‘tong panalo,” Joseph Nunag said after dropping 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.

“Collective effort din kami lahat, kaya nahabol namin.” he added.

The Generals were able to trim their huge disadvantage to three, 71-68, heading into the fourth quarter.

The Blazers, who slid down to 6-2 in Group A, continued to lose steam in the payoff period, allowing EAC to go on a quarter-opening 5-2 spurt that gave coach Jerson Cabiltes’ wards a 75-73 advantage.

Jhommel Ancheta halted the Generals’ hot run with a jumper to tie the game at 75-all but that only gave way to another 10-3 EAC run capped off by a Jude Bagay bucket to take the decisive 85-78 advantage with under a minute left in the game.

The troika of Wilmar Oftana, Jacob Shanoda and EJ Castillo helped EAC’s cause with 15, 13 and 12 points, respectively, as the Generals improved to 3-5.

The Blazers had their winning streak halted after four games but not without Justine Sanchez and John Morales dropping 16 markers a piece. Ancheta and SJ Moore also chipped in 14 and 11 in the defeat.