Just a day after getting upset by Jose Rizal University, Emilio Aguinaldo College came back with a vengeance at the expense of Lyceum of the Philippines University, 93-81, in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup, Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Trailing by three points at halftime, the Generals detonated a 29-10 blast to snatch the momentum and establish a 16-point margin, 79-63, entering the final frame. They wouldn’t look back all the way to their fourth win in five games – still tops in the NCAA bracket of the tournament co-presented by Bostik El Heneral and ABC Tile Adhesive, and has Smart Sports, Strong Group Athletics, and Hanes as major sponsors.
“I told the players that we need to bounce back in this game. We talked about our defense in the halftime huddle and then ‘yun nga ‘yung third quarter. We just contended,” head coach Jerson Cabiltes said.
Harvey Pagsanjan, finally playing following his transfer from University of the East, fronted the attack with 14 markers alongside two assists and two steals. JC Luciano also contributed 10 markers with five boards to make sure EAC got back into its groove after a 66-73 defeat at the Heavy Bombers’ hands last Monday.
“‘Yung naging motivation ko lang (ay) ‘yung kahapon na game namin,” Pagsanjan said after they reclaimed the top spot.
College of Saint Benilde then claimed solo second after Tony Ynot and Allen Liwag shot their side over JRU, 86-80.
Ynot did it all with 24 points, five assists, three rebounds, and three steals, while Liwag dominated down low with a 23-marker, 11-board double-double to lead the Blazers’ rise to 3-1 in the preseason showcase also supported by Tela.com Athletics as official outfitter and Molten as official game ball, as well as minor sponsors Reyes Barbecue, KFC, Brothers Burger, Wallem Philippines Shipping, Harbor Star Shipping Services, Akari, Jiang Nan Hotpot, and KantiGo Sports.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran, meantime, fended off gutsy Arellano University, 80-75, for its third win in a row after a 0-2 start.
