EMILIO Aguinaldo College (EAC) logged only its second win in the season with a 59-53 upset of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Tuesday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Generals ended a four-game losing streak despite playing without JP Maguliano, while Nat Cosejo left early in the game because of an injury.
“Credit to the guys of course, their resiliency,” EAC coach Oliver Bunyi said. “Before the game, I talked to them about toughness, despite all the negative things that happened to us. So they responded.”
Given more playing time, Art Cosa stepped up for the Generals with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Adrian Balowa scored 10 points.
“I gave them the opportunity and they grabbed it,” Bunyi said.
JC Luciano, a starter for EAC, also played big with 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The loss was the ninth in 14 games for the Altas who are now in the brink of elimination.
Now tied with Mapua at eighth place, Perpetual is four games behind Lyceum of the Philippines University (9-5) in the race for the last Final Four berth.
Rey Barcuma led the Altas with 12 points while Mark Omega added 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.