Generals fuel semis campaign, nip Blazers

Games tomorrow

4 p.m. – Arellano U vs EAC

6 p.m. – St. Benilde vs Letran

Standings            W            L

San Beda             13           2

Letran         11     3

Perpetual            11           5

San Sebastian    8              6

EAC        8              7

Jose Rizal             6              8

St. Benilde          5              9

Arellano U           5              9

Lyceum                5              10

*Mapua               1              14

MANILA, Philippines - Jan Jamon and John Tayongtong took charge in the clutch as Emilio Aguinaldo College turned back St. Benilde, 85-83, to close in on San Sebastian College in their battle for the last Final Four berth in the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Down by three points with over a minute left in the contest, the Generals went to Jamon, who knocked in a triple to force a tie at 83 with 20.7 seconds to go, before Tayongtong, after a muffed play by the Blazers, slashed through the middle to deliver the game-winner.

The Blazers actually had one more chance to snatch the game but Travis Jonson misfired from the long range as time expired, enabling the Generals to post the win, their eighth against seven losses.

That moved them within the idle Stags, clinging on to the No. 4 spot with an 8-6 (win-loss) mark.

“We made the stops but most importantly we made the shots when they mattered most. I have to thank Jan and John and all the players for getting this win,” said EAC coach Gerry Esplana.

After Jamon tied it at 83, Jonson drained a triple that was however nullified after teammate Jose Alfonso Saavedra was called for an illegal pick.

It was another heartbreaker for the Blazers, who took their third two-point loss that went with their four one-point defeats for a 5-9 card.

Another win by either San Sebastian or EAC will eliminate St. Benilde, which lost big men Saavedra, Jeff Ongteco and Roberto Bartolo to fouls in the fourth.

Tayongtong, a transferee from Arellano U, took the best player of the game honors as he finished with 17 points highlighted by his game-winner in heavy traffic. He spiked his sterling effort with five rebounds and two assists.

As they escaped with the crucial win, Esplana clenched his fist in jubilation as the Generals made it past the .500 mark for the first time since entering the league four seasons ago.

In the nightcap, Jose Rizal dumped Mapua, 73-56, to stay in the Final Four hunt with a 6-8 mark.

The Cardinals remained at the bottom with a 1-14 slate.