EAC-Immaculate Concepcion Academy finally scored its breakthrough win, and more impressively did it in enemy territory, stunning Jose Rizal University, 75-69, on Thursday in the NCAA Season 95 juniors basketball tournament at JRU Gym in Shaw.
Adrian Balowa's off-the-glass trey with 59 seconds left gave the Brigadiers the 71-67 breathing room they needed before the team canned the game-icing freebies to finally win after five losses.
"Chinallenge ko sila how to end the game and have that winning moment sa ganitong crowd. Lahat ng nakalaban namin, dikit naman eh, so it's up to us how to play and how to win," said coach Azli Guro.
Balowa topped EAC-ICA with 22 points on 4-of-11 shooting from deep, to go with two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
JR Ilustrisimo had 14 points and seven rebounds, Joshua Dandoy delivered 13 points, six assists, four boards and two steals, and Mark Sanosa got 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
"We've been praying hard since that third loss. We're expecting na sana maganda ang season namin eh, but we went back to basics, basic teaching, basic drills, and i-motivate lang yung mga bata. Pero challenge talaga to get that first win. Nawawala kami sa last two to three minutes, pero buti ngayon, hindi kami bumigay," said Guro.
Raul Gentalan topped JRU (4-3) with 15 points and four rebounds, as Gholam Garcia got 14 points and eight boards.
The scores:
EAC-ICA 75 - Balowa 22, Ilustrisimo 14, Dandoy 13, Sanosa 11, Macaraya 5, Encila 2, Baruelo 2, Rodrin 2, Mejia 2, Calipco 2, Sollestre 0, Cabuhat 0, Lomogda 0
JRU 69 - Gentalan 15, Garcia 14, Medina 12, Joson 7, Lenon 7, Icban 5, B. Sy 4, Fortuna 3, Famaranco 2, Ramirez 0, W. Sy 0.
Quarterscores: 17-11; 32-33; 53-53; 75-69.
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