The EAC Generals extended their resurgence in the NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournamen after defeating the Lyceum Pirates, 89‑79, on Friday evening at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Generals secured their second consecutive victory following a 0‑3 start, improving to 2‑3 in the standings. The Pirates, meanwhile, slipped to 1‑4 after suffering their third straight loss.
Generals Flip Momentum Early
Lyceum opened strong, riding Roger Ondoa’s offense to a 26‑20 lead after the first quarter. EAC responded immediately in the second frame, unleashing a 14‑0 run to seize control.
The Pirates attempted to rally, but the Generals maintained their cushion. Jinryl Baniqued’s three‑pointer restored a double‑digit lead, sending EAC into halftime ahead, 55‑44.
Pirates Rally Behind Rubico and Ondoa
Lyceum stormed out of the break with nine unanswered points, trimming the deficit to 55‑53 after Renz Villegas’ layup. The Pirates kept pressing, and Simon Penafiel’s basket eventually cut the margin to one, 65‑64, entering the fourth quarter.
EAC opened the final frame with a 6‑0 burst, but Matthew Rubico answered with a personal surge that swung momentum back to Lyceum. His 7‑0 run gave the Pirates a 74‑73 lead, setting up a tense closing stretch.
Lyceum briefly went ahead, 79‑78, with just over three minutes left, but the Generals had the last word.
EAC Closes Strong
With the game tied at 78‑all, EAC strung together a decisive 5‑1 run, capped by Joseph Nunag’s short stab for an 84‑79 lead with 1:16 remaining. Rubico missed a crucial layup on the next possession, opening the door for Wilmar Oftana, who buried a three‑pointer with 45 seconds left to seal the win.
EJ Castillo led EAC with 23 points on 9‑of‑14 shooting, adding 3 rebounds and 2 assists off the bench. Oftana contributed 13 points and 6 boards, while Jude Bagay chipped in 12 points. Harvae Raymundo finished with 9 points and 10 assists.
Rubico posted a double‑double of 21 points and 10 rebounds for Lyceum. Ondoa added 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Villegas scored 11.
The Generals capitalized on Lyceum’s errors, converting 24 points off turnovers compared to just eight for the Pirates, and dominated the fastbreak battle, 28‑12.
With back‑to‑back wins, EAC continued its climb after a rough start, while Lyceum’s struggles deepened.
