NCAA 94: EAC gets big lift from Laminou

Referees break up a confrontation among Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mapua players during an NCAA Season 94 game yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. EAC won 89-85. (MB photo | Rio Leonelle Deluvio)

by Kristel Satumbaga

Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) rallied from a surmountable third quarter deficit and edged Mapua, 89-85, yesterday in NCAA men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.

Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou and Jess Bautista came through with double-double performances as the Generals followed up on their recent 79-77 win over the San Sebastian Stags for a 2-4 mark at joint sixth.

Laminou pumped in 17 points and hauled 12 rebounds while Bautista fired 13 markers and grabbed 13 boards. The 6-foot-9 Laminou also had 6 blocks.

Jan Natividad unloaded 10 of his 12 markers in the third period as the Generals trimmed a six-point halftime deficit to 63-60 before back-to-back baskets from Philip Tampoc got them over the hump, 70-68, with 7:33 left.

Natividad teamed up with CJ Cadua for 23 points, a huge improvement from their combined season average of 3.6 points per game.

Mapua skidded to its fifth loss in seven outings despite a 24-point explosion from Noah Lugo.

In juniors action, last year’s finalist Mapua survived EAC, 80-79, while Jose Rizal U toppled Arellano, 79-64.

Tags: Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou, Jan Natividad, Jess Bautista, Mapua, NCAA men’s basketball, San Sebastian Stags