ONWUBERE STEPS UP AS EAC BLAST ARELLANO TO GRAB SOLO THIRD SPOT
By Maxine Louise Lagman
8 August 2017
The Emilio Aguinaldo College conquered the Arellano University late in the final frame to finish strong, 85-79, Tuesday in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The EAC Generals suffered great loss in the game as Hamadou Laminou suffered an ankle injury following an awkward fall from rebounding the ball against Arellano Chiefs’ Lervin Flores just in the first quarter of the game.
Luckily, the Generals was saved by Sidney Onwubere, who did not just put up with the Cameroonian’s place, but also doubled his efforts to push the squad win the match with a double-double record of 17 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, sobrang laking kawalan ni Laminou lalo na kung halimbawa hindi na siya makapaglaro this season,” said Onwubere, though the extent of Laminou’s injury is still yet to be known.
EAC was able to lead by as much as 11 points, 79-68 after Onwubere’s trey. However, Kent Salado kept on forcing to boost his teammates to overturn the match back to their side and cut the lead to only two points, 81-79.
However, a bad pass from Flores in the final minutes of the game turned over for the Generals’ win as Raymond Pascua took the time to seal the win with his free throws.
Juju Bautista had 14 points for EAC, while Jerome Garcia added another 13.
Arellano Chiefs Allen Enriquez took the lead with 17 points and seven rebounds.
EAC takes the solo third in the team standings with a 3-2 slate, while the Arellano Chiefs fell to 2-4.
The Generals will host the NCAA on Tour and will face the Lyceum Pirates on Thursday, August 10, while the Chiefs will take on the Perpetual Altas on Tuesday, August 15.
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