EAC claims quarterfinal advantage with 102-93 win over Arellano
The Generals secured second place in Group B at 7-6, with Jude Bagay and EJ Castillo contributing 23 points each.
Emilio Aguinaldo College earned a twice-to-beat advantage for the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball quarterfinals by beating Arellano 102-93 at Philsports Arena. The result left EAC as Group B’s second seed with a 7-6 record, while the Chiefs dropped to 6-7.
Jude Bagay and EJ Castillo each scored 23 points for the Generals, while Wilmar Oftana added 18. Arellano’s scoring was headed by Basti Valencia with 23, followed by King Vinoya with 22 and Renzo Abiera with 18.
The Chiefs narrowed the gap late in the fourth quarter, using an 8-2 run to reach 95-88 with 1:49 remaining. Kyle Ochavo then converted a three-point play, taking EAC to 98-88 with 1:14 left.
After Vinoya scored again, Ochavo made one of his free throws and Jacob Shanoda connected from three-point range. Vinoya’s late triple was not enough to rescue Arellano.
Bagay had provided 15 points in the opening period, which ended 31-30 in EAC’s favour. Castillo supplied 11 in the second quarter as the Generals moved to 64-56 at the break. EAC entered the fourth ahead 82-74 and later reached its largest lead, 93-80, following a 6-1 burst.
