Chiefs repel Generals in OT

MANILA, Philippines — Arellano University rode on Levi dela Cruz’s late game heroics and pounced on Emilio Aguinaldo College’s horrendous free throw shooting to eke out a 75-69 overtime victory yesterday in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the AU Gym in Legarda.

The 5-7 Dela Cruz scored the last seven points to anchor the Chiefs’ big finish in a game that saw the Generals muff 29 of their 46 free throws, including five in extension, enabling the hosts to hurdle their opening game assignment.

AU thus joined reigning champion San Beda and Mapua at second behind Lyceum of the Philippines, which swept its first two matches.

“We’re thankful that we have guards who would help fill the big vacuum left by (Kent) Salado and Levi was one of them,” said AU coach Jerry Codiñera. “It was also a big factor that EAC missed a lot of foul shots, it really helped us a lot.”

Adrian Alban also shone in his first game with AU after transferring from Lyceum, firing 13 points, including eight late in regulation, to help the Chiefs force overtime at 63.

Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou shoved EAC to a 69-68 lead with a little over three minutes to go but the Generals struggled and failed to score from there while failing to stop Dela Cruz from delivering the killer blows.

The Generals, who also lost to the Pirates, 97-106, last week, fell to 0-2.