Ralph Robin owned the spotlight as he steered Emilio Aguinaldo College to a 63-60 come-from-behind win against San Sebastian College-Recoletos for back-to-back victories in the NCAA Season 97 on Wednesday.
EAC now cruised to its second win in a row to improve to 3-3 while San Sebastian slid to 2-4.
Down 55-58, Robin knocked down two huge triples, one to tie the game and another to give EAC the lead, 61-58, with 1:11 ticks left in the game.
Robin then completed two freebies for a 63-58 cushion but a turnover from him handed the possession to San Sebastian. A miss by Michael Are, though, proved costly for the Stags as EAC ultimately completed the win.
Robin tallied a career-high 27 points, highlighted by seven three-pointers, to go along with two rebounds, three assists, and a steal while JP Maguliano chipped in 14 markers, seven boards, and five dimes.
Nat Cosejo was also crucial, churning out double-double efforts of 10 points and 14 boards.
It was a cold first half for the Stags with the Generals controlling the pace early.
Although San Sebastian managed to build a 22-11 lead at the conclusion of the first, the wards of head coach Egay Macaraya struggled to connect in the second canto, notching just one field goal each from Rommel Calahat and JM Calma.
It didn't help San Sebastian's cause that Robin drilled back-to-back triples to wrap the frame as Stags led by just a thread, 30-29.
San Sebastian started turning the tides in the third with Calma, Ken Villapando, and Jessie Sumoda fueling a 15-4 barrage for a 45-33 spread. JP Maguliano and Robin tried staging some fightback but EAC still trailed at the end of the frame, 41-49.
The Generals slowly clawed back in the fourth with Robin tying the game at 49 apiece with a triple before another three-pointer from him swung back the lead to EAC with 6:38 left to spare, 52-51.
EAC squares off with Colegio de San Juan de Letran on April 20 while San Sebastian next faces Jose Rizal University on April 19.
The scores:
EAC (63) — Robin 27, Maguliano 14, Cosejo 10, Liwag 8, Cadua 2, An. Doria 2, Taywan 0, Ad. Doria 0, Luciano 0, Bunyi 0.
SSC-R (60) — Villapando 16, Altamirano 9, Calma 7, Felebrico 6, Cosari 5, Are 5, Sumoda 4, Calahat 4, Desoyo 0, Abarquez 2, Dela Cruz 0, Loristo 0, Una 0, Shanoda 0.
Quarterscores: 11-22, 29-30, 41-49, 63-60.
—JMB, GMA News
