Generals upset Stags; Lions overpower Pirates
Playing without their head coach and top shooter, perennial cellar dwellers Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals shocked co-leader San Sebastian-Recoletos Stags in a convincing 77-67 win in NCAA hoops action yesterday at the San Juan Arena.
Four of acting coach Andy de Guzman’s wards scored in double digits led by veteran forward Russell Yaya and African center Cedric Happi for the Generals’ first win streak of the season.
EAC opened the game furiously, building a 26-11 first quarter bubble against last season’s runners-up.
The Stags, however, used its superior size and power through the efforts Ian Sangalang and wildcard Jovit dela Cruz to cut the deficit to one, 57-58, at the end of the third canto.
Happi and Yaya though unleashed an 8-0 blitz to start the final period as pro-bound Stag Calvin Abueva fouled out with a technical foul at the six-minute mark of the quarter. Since then, the Generals held on to the lead.
Yaya and Happi scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, for Generals while Sangalang poured 24 points for the Stags. The Generals jump to solo ninth place with a 3-7 record while the Stags drop to solo third at 7-3.
EAC previously won against the College of St. Benilde Blazers with a 76-61 rout on August 4 to end its first round campaign. The fight-marred match resulted in a one-game suspension of EAC head coach Gerry Esplana, shooter Jorem Morada, and point guard Francis Munsayac.
In the second game, the San Beda College Red Lions asserted their league dominance as new King Lion Baser Amer dished out a career-best 16 assists to rout the Lyceum Pirates 77-47.
Center Jake Pascual topscored for the Lions with 17 points while Christopher Cayabyab was the lone bright spot for the cellar-dwelling pirates with 11 points.
The Lions grab the solo lead with an 8-2 record whil the Pirates are dead last in the standings at 2-8.
BOX SCORES
First game
EAC (77): Yaya 18, Happi 17, King 17, Tayongtong 11, Monteclaro 5, Jamon 3, Chiong 3, Paguia 3, Sanchez 0, Acebron 0, Mallari 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN (67): Sangalang 24, Dela Cruz 14, Pascual 10, Abueva 9, Maiquez 4, Antipuesto 2, MIranda 2, Juico 2, Binuya 0, Rebollos 0, Balucanag 0.
Quarters: 26-11, 43-38, 58-57, 77-67
Second game
SAN BEDA (77): J. Pascual 17, Dela Rosa 12, K. Pascual 10, Adeogun 9, Amer 9, Mendoza 6, Koga 5, Caram 4, Dela Cruz 3, Ludovice 2, Villaruz 0, Lim 0.
LYCEUM (47): Cayabyab 11, Ko 9, Guevarra 0, Laude 6, Francisco 5, Alanes 3, Edding 2, Martinez 2, Mendoza 0, garcia 0, Ambohot 0, Mallari 0, Azores 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 41-26, 51-37, 77-47
