NCAA: EAC Brigadiers snap skid by overcoming Letran, near playoffs incentive 

Emilio Aguinaldo College rallied late to turn back Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 78-75, to break its slump in the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball on Sunday at the Filoil Centre.

The Brigadiers unleashed a 10-3 closing run to end their two-game losing streak and improve to 8-3 in Group B. With the win, EAC has clinched an outright quarterfinal spot, but can still book one of the two twice-to-beat incentives. 

Xyriel Macahipay torched the Squires with 20 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal while Johari Domingo and Noel Lanceta each chipped in 13 markers. 

EAC found itself trailing by five late in the fourth after Justin Cargo drained a basket that sent Letran to a 73-68 cushion. Kelly Coronel, however, made the most of his trips to the free throw line, sinking three straight freebies before Lanceta knocked down a jumper that forced a 73-all deadlock in the final 1:14. 

Prince Taganas and Macahipay then buried back-to-back baskets for a 77-73 EAC lead.

The Squires, though, pulled to within two when Mico Pascual sank a pair of freebies to spark their comeback drive. 

However, EAC fended it off as Coronel split his freebies to help the Brigadiers bounce back from a string of losses to Mapua University and Jose Rizal University. 

Nathan Egea and Cargo paced Letran with 17 and 16 points apiece, but those were not enough as the Squires halted their three-game winning streak that saw them beat San Sebastian, JRU, and La Salle Green Hills. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News