Nat Cosejo starred for Emilio Aguinaldo College as the Generals snapped their drought by defeating top seed De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 80-75, in NCAA Season 98 on Sunday.
Cosejo, a day after being named the MVP of the GMA NCAA All-Star Basketball Game, posted 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting (64.7-percent) while grabbing nine rebounds to lead his team to its first win of the season.
EAC improved to 1-9 while Benilde absorbed its second loss of the season to go 7-2.
Ralph Bajon added 16 points for the Generals' cause while Adrian Balowa and Allen Liwag finished with 10 points apiece.
With Benilde holding a slim fourth quarter lead, back-to-back baskets from JP Maguliano brought EAC back to within one, 70-69, before Balowa tied things up with a split free throw.
A crucial one-hander from Cosejo over Mark Sangco then gave the Generals a much-needed 78-75 cushion with 48 ticks left.
Back-to-back turnovers from both sides gave the Blazers another chance to manufacture a last-ditch play, but Migs Oczon went wide on his triple attempt.
Maguliano sealed the upset win with two freebies.
An early showdown between Liwag and Benilde's Will Gozum was seen in the first half, which ended with Benilde holding a 40-39 lead as the Blazers' stat big man poured in 17 points early.
Liwag, meanwhile, scored eight, but Cosejo's 13 markers at the half proved pivotal for the Generals, who are playing their first game since the announcement of Ralph Robin and King Gurtiza's suspensions.
Gozum finished with 19 points and nine boards to lead Benilde.
The scores:
EAC 80 - Cosejo 24, Bajon 16, Balowa 10, Liwag 10, Maguliano 6, Cosa 5, Dominguez 5, Ad. Doria 4, Quinal 0, Luciano 0, Tolentino 0, An. Doria 0.
Benilde 75 - Gozum 19, Nayve 13, Pasturan 11, Corteza 8, Oczon 6, Sangco 6, Lim 6, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Marcos 2, Mara 0, Davis 0, Lepalam 0, Flores 0.
Quarters: 19-18, 39-40, 57-59, 80-75.
—JMB, GMA News
