Nico Quinal poured eight of his overall output in the fourth period to power Emilio Aguinaldo College to a narrow 68-65 victory over Jose Rizal University for a breakthrough win in NCAA Season 101 on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old guard finished with 10 points, none bigger than the three-pointer that put the Generals ahead by three with 1:25 left, as the Heavy Bombers came up empty in the ensuing possessions.
Quinal also posted five rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Wilmar Oftana and transferee Oman Omandac chipped in 13 and 10 markers apiece.
With the win, EAC was able to bounce back from its opener loss to Benilde and improve to 1-1 in Group B. JRU, which was coming off a huge win against Letran last Friday, fell to a similar 1-1 card.
It was a chess match between the two teams, trading leads throughout until the Generals finally seized momentum early in the fourth, with Oftana and Quinal knocking down a triple each to build a 54-43 cushion.
Omandac then completed a three-point play before Quinal's jumper made it a 59-55 lead for EAC, which is hoping to eclipse its fifth-place finish last year.
But Shawn Argente, who had been in rhythm all game, drilled back-to-back triples to ignite the Heavy Bombers’ comeback and knot the score at 65-all with 2:39 left.
EAC, however, regained control when Quinal found himself open in the left corner and calmly buried a clutch three-pointer off a pass from Oftana to break the deadlock and restore the lead.
The Heavy Bombers had their chances to force overtime, but Argente and Justin Lozano both misfired on their late three-point attempts, sealing the win for the Generals.
Argente dazzled in the loss after scattering 27 points together with four rebounds while rookie Sean Salvador and Lozano and chipped in 11 and 10 markers.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
