Generals in gallant stand

Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) survived Arellano University’s late rally to post an 85-79 victory yesterday in the 93rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Leading 79-68 with 3:18 left, the Generals saw the Chiefs launch a 10-3 run courtesy of Kent Salado that trimmed the gap at 81-79 before hanging on in the final 26.2 seconds.

Arellano tried to stop the clock and gain possession with successive fouls, but Sidney Onwubere and Raymund Pascua sank four of their six charities to protect EAC’s lead.

The Generals moved to third place with a 3-2 card, while the Chiefs absorbed their third straight loss and slipped to 2-4 near the bottom standings.

In the second game, St. Benilde outgunned Mapua in the fourth quarter to eke out a come-from-behind 7469 victory and improve to 2-4.

JJ Domingo unleashed a careerhigh 24 points while Senegalese Clement Leutcheu had 14 points and 17 caroms, but it was their fourth quarter effort that spelled the big difference as the two sparked a run that overhauled a 62-51 deficit after three quarters.

Domingo and Leutcheu each fired five points in the fourth quarter when St. Benilde outscored Mapua, 22-8.

“We’re supper happy, super enthusiastic because our hardwork is starting to pay off,” said St. Benilde coach Ty Tang.

Onwubere spearheaded EAC with 17 points and 14 rebounds, doubling his efforts after Hamadou Laminou hurt his left knee late in the first quarter from stepping on someone foot. Laminou didn’t return to the game.

Jesse Bautista also shone with 14 points four rebounds and three assists for the Gens, while Jerome Garcia poured all his 13 points in the second half highlighted by three triples.

EAC sizzled on offense by shooting 50 percent from the floor (28-of-55) with 11 three-pointers. The Generals’ biggest lead came near the end of the third when Garcia sparked a 12-0 run for a 67-58 lead.