By Julian Reyes
SAN JUAN, MM--The Arellano University Chiefs proved steady down the stretch to spoil Emilio Aguinaldo College’s series of attempts for a comeback and claim their first win of the 2016 FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup, 79-70, at FilOil Flying V Centre on Wednesday.
The Chiefs lost an early 16-point lead but were able to hold on in the clutch behind team captain Jiovani Jalalon to take the victory.
Jalalon finished with a game-high 18 points, including timely shots that stopped the bleeding for Arellano whenever the Generals were trying to make comeback.
Zach Nichols added ten points in 12 minutes of stay in the court to help lift the Chiefs, who played with 18 players.
“The goal for this game is really to use a lot of players to give them exposure and experience. In-eevaluate pa namin ang mga players kasi iba talaga pag Team A laban sa Team A na. Iba na kapag nakita nila yung Arena at yung prestige ng FilOil,” said Arellano’s head coach Jerry Condinera.
After taking command for most of the first half and building a lead to as much as 16 points, 40-24, the Chiefs suddenly found themselves shooting blanks in the final three minutes of that canto and the Emilio Aguinaldo College took advantage of it.
Led by gunner Francis Munsayac, the Generals closed the first half with a quick 10-0 run to cut Arellano’s lead to only six, 34-40.
When the game resumed at the second half, the tandem of Jalalon and Nichols quickly brought the momentum back on their team as the two continued to pour baskets after baskets to give the Chiefs a 13-point lead heading into the fourth, 66-53.
The Generals went into another attack to trim the lead to seven, 63-70, with two minutes left, but Jalalon and the rest of the Arellano 5 demonstrated their composure anew to slam the door on the hard-fighting Emilio Aguinaldo.
Big man Hamadou Laminou top scored the Generals as he registered 16 markers and six rebounds on 36 minutes of play while Munsayac buried four triples to finish with 14 points on a losing effort.
Up next for Arellano (1-0) is the reigning UAAP champions FEU Tamaraws on May 7 while the Generals face Perpetual Help Altas on May 11.
Box Scores:
Arellano 79–Jalalon 18, Nicholls 10, Canete 9, Gumaru 8, Enriquez, 7, Salado 5, Flores 5, Aguilar 4, Rivera 4, Holts 2, Meca 2, Gupilan 2, Filart 2, Viloria 1, Cadavis 0, Abanes 0, Alcoriza 0, Ongolo 0
EAC 72–Laminou 16, Munsayac 14, Morada 12, Onwubere 12, Guzman 4, King 4, Diego 2, Pascua 2, Estacio 2, Mendoza 1, Corilla 1, Aguas 0
Quarterscores: 26-15, 40-34, 66-53, 79-72
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