EAC hosts San Beda in NCAA tour showcase

MANILA, Philippines — The Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals play as hosts to the San Beda Red Lions at the EAC gym in Manila today, seeking a follow-up to their shock win over the Lyceum Pirates the last time out.

Hardly given a look in the preseason, the Generals put up an early surprise in bringing down the Pirates, 84-82, Friday.

And the Generals brim with confidence as they set out for the battle versus the Red Lions at 4 p.m. in the initial slate in the “NCAA on Tour” series this season.

The EAC stop of the tour also features the junior squads of the two schools mixing it up at 2 p.m.

In its first game last week, EAC came close to upsetting College of St. Benilde as the former stormed back from an 18-point deficit before falling short in the end and absorbing a 66-69 defeat.

But the Generals, who have already lost Cameroonian 6-9 center Hamadou Laminou this year due to academics, weren’t disheartened, instead carrying their strong second-half effort versus the Blazers in pulling the rug from under the Pirates.

And EAC hopes to pull another upset against the Lions.

“Very long shot but we’re working very hard for it,” said EAC coach Oliver Bunyi, a former Gilas Pilipinas assistant who took over from Ariel Sison this year.

Jethro Mendoza and JP Maguliano have been carrying the fight for EAC with the former averaging 18.5 points including a league-best four triples a game and the latter norming 14 points and a league-high 14.5 rebounds.

The Lions are expected to be an acid test for the Generals as the latter have been impressive in their first two games with routs over Arellano U Chiefs, 59-46, and the Jose Rizal U Bombers, 74-52, and should be playing armed with the same mentality on this one.

Evan Nelle shone the brightest in San Beda’s last assignment as he dished out a career-high 11 assists he spiked with five points, three boards and the same number of steals.

“He’s still learning but so far, he’s been doing well,” said San Beda mentor Boyet Fernandez of the sophomore guard.