The Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals snapped a seven-game skid by beating an undermanned College of Saint Benilde Blazers team, 76-61, while the San Beda College Red Lions executed on both ends to establish a 62-37 rout of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena, in the 88th season of the NCAA.

After leading by 12 points at the start of the second period, 18-6, the Red Lions zoomed to a 35-15 margin by halftime, with the Heavy Bombers shooting just 20 percent in the first half.

JRU would wind up shooting just 27 percent from the floor when all was said and done, as San Beda went to town on defense.

"I guess JRU just didn't regain enough confidence in the early part of the game," said San Beda head coach Ronnie Magsanoc. "They are luckless tonight. They played tough in our previous encounters and they are hard to beat."

The Heavy Bombers' best offensive threat, gunner Nate Matute, came into the game averaging 21 points, but he was held to just two points in the first thirty minutes of the game, before doubling his output by the time the final buzzer sounded.

"We just contained Nate [Matute] but I guess he just couldn't find his rhythm at the same time," Magsanoc added.

Similarly, JRU's other weapons, sophomore swingman John Villarias and power forward John Lopez were held to just five and two points respectively, a far cry from their 11-point averages. San Beda also scored 13 points off turnovers, compared to just four by JRU.

Kyle Pascual was a monster down low, scoring eight of his 14 points in the third period, to finish with a 78 percent shooting clip from the field, while also adding seven rebounds.

Center Ola Adeogun had a relatively quiet 12 points and seven rebounds, while Art Dela Cruz and Ryusei Koga each chipped in 10 markers.

"It was a perfect game, a collective effort through the players," Pascual said.


Meanwhile, EAC was on its way to a relatively painless thrashing of the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, when a brawl broke out late, after CSB's Rhoel Maconocido hit rookie Francis Munsayac with an elbow to the face.

As a result of the confrontation that immediately followed, Munsayac, and Blazers point guard Joel Tolentino were hit with technical fouls. Maconocido was then ejected, as was Generals head coach Gerry Esplana, who entered the playing court to help separate players.

Prior to that however, the Generals were on a tear, as a 9-0 run keyed in by center Noube Happi allowed them to post a 54-37 advantage in the third period, which forward Jolas Paguia managed to extend to 64-44 in the fourth quarter on a booming triple.

Benilde was playing without the services of marquee player Carlo Lastimosa and forward Jonathan Grey, as the two had been held out by coach Richard Del Rosario as punishment for missing practices.

San Beda's win allowed them to keep in step with their rivals, the San Sebastian College Golden Stags, with both teams now sporting 6-1 records. JRU on the other hand, fell to 6-2, in a tie with the Perpetual Help Altas, completing the top four in the standings.

EAC on the other hand, improved to 2-7, to share the cellar position with guest school Lyceum of the Philippines University, while CSB settled for a 3-6 card. - AMD, GMA News



The scores

Game 1

EAC 76 — Happi 18, Paguia 13, Monteclaro 10, Jamon 8, King 8, Yaya 8, Chiong 7, Munsayac 4, Morada 0, Tayongtong 0, Mallari 0, Lumahan 0

CSB 61 — Romero 19, Taha 15, Maconocido 10, Tan 5, Tolentino 4, Bartolo 2, Ongteco 2, Deles 2, Garcia 2, Sinco 0, Altamirano 0, Dela Paz 0.

Quarter scoring:  20-15, 36-33, 59-41, 76-61


Game 2

SBC 62 — K. Pascual 14, Adeogun 12, Dela Cruz 10, Koga 10, J. Pascual 6, Dela Rosa 5, Amer 5, Caram 0, Lim 0, Mendoza 0, Ludovice 0

Jose Rizal (37) — Carampil 10, Villarias 5, Matute 4, Almario 4, Mabulac 4, Camasura 4, Lopez 2, Diapera 2, Dela Paz 2, Salaveria 0, Mendoza 0, Porter 0

Quarter scoring: 18-6, 35-15, 53-25, 62-37


Inboundpass has been covering collegiate basketball for six years. For more NCAA stories and information, check out inboundpass.com and follow Inboundpass on Twitter at @inboundpass