Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) emerged victorious in a thrilling match against Arellano University in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament. The game, held at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Friday, October 13, saw EAC’s King Gurtiza deliver a clutch performance.
Gurtiza’s three-pointers in the fourth quarter proved instrumental in securing EAC’s win, including two consecutive triples that gave them a 77-74 lead with only 1 minute and 5 seconds remaining on the clock. Despite the efforts of Arellano’s Troy Valencia to rally his team, EAC’s defense stood strong.
Leading the charge for EAC were JP Maguliano and Ralph Robin, who contributed 20 and 16 points respectively. However, it was Gurtiza’s late-game heroics that stole the show, as he recorded 14 points and proved to be the difference maker for his team.
On the other side, Jade Talampas led the scoring for Arellano with 20 points, while Valencia added 16. Unfortunately for Arellano, their efforts were not enough to secure a victory, leaving them with a record of 1 win and 5 losses.
This victory marked EAC’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, solidifying their position as strong contenders. The team is now 4-2 in the standings, while Arellano faces an uphill battle at 1-5.
The performance of King Gurtiza and the EAC Generals will surely be remembered as a key moment in their pursuit of success in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament.
