Generals outlast Chiefs, wrest solo third spot

Games tomorrow (EAC Gym)

2 p.m. – EAC vs LPU (jrs)

4 p.m. – EAC vs LPU (srs)

MANILA, Philippines - Sydney Onwubere took charge in the absence of Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou as Emilio Aguinaldo College stunned Arellano U, 85-79, yesterday to seize solo third in the 93rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Onwubere drained in four triples for a team-best 17 points and hauled down 14 rebounds for a double-double effort he spiked with three assists, three shot blocks and a steal that more than made up for the sidelining of Laminou, who injured his right knee late in the opening period and never returned.

Laminou, who had previously sustained a torn MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury, is undergoing MRI with EAC coach Ariel Sison hoping for the best result for the 6-9 reinforcement.

“Hopefully it’s not what we fear,” said Sison.

But Onwubere proved up to the task, leading the Generals to the six-point victory, their second straight and third overall against two losses.

“All I want is to help our team make the Final Four. I’ve never experienced that,” said Onwubere, who is set to join the PBA Draft in November.

Sison also drew superb games from the rest of the Generals with Jerome Garcia pouring in all his 13 points in the second half, including 10 in the third quarter when EAC broke a 43-all count at halftime to post a 67-59 lead entering the last quarter.

St. Benilde later outplayed Mapua in the fourth quarter and pulled through in a wild finish to complete a come-from-behind 74-69 victory and improve to 2-4.

JJ Domingo unloaded a career-high 24 points while Senegalese Clement Leutcheu shot 14 points and pulled down 17 rebounds to help the Blazers fight back from nine points down after three quarters and into the five-point victory.

The Cardinals dropped to last of the 10-team field with a 1-5 mark.

In juniors’ action, Arellano dumped EAC, 83-65, to join San Beda at third at 4-2.

The Brigadiers fell to 0-5.

The scores:

First Game

EAC 85 – Onwubere 17, Bautista 14, Garcia 13, Munsayac 11, Laminou 8, Diego 6, Guzman 6, Pascua 5, Corilla 3, Neri 2, Tampoc 0, Mendoza J 0, Mendoza I 0

Arellano U 79 – Salado 24, Enriquez 17, Alcoriza 12, Flores 7, Dela Cruz 5, Meca 3, Villoria 3, Nicholls 3, Concepcion 3, Canete 2, Abanes 0, Ongolo Ongolo 0

Quarterscores: 22-20, 43-43, 67-59, 85-79

Second Game

CSB 74 – Domingo 24, Leutcheu 14, Young 13, Dixon 10, Sta. Maria 6, San Juan 4, Naboa 3, Castor 0, Suarez 0, Pili 0, Bunyi 0

MAPUA 69 – Bunag 13, Estrella 12, Nieles 12, Magboo 12, Raflores 7, Gabo 4, Victoria 4, Orquina 3, Aguirre 2

Quarterscores: 13-12, 31-38, 52-61, 74-69