The Arellano Chiefs had to wait an additional nine days to make the NCAA Season 94 debut, but they made sure that they were worth the wait in front of their home fans as they got the thrilling 75-69 overtime victory against the EAC Generals at the Arellano Gym on Thursday.
Adrian Alban scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and was the one responsible for sending the game into overtime at 68 apiece with a crucial shot with 38 seconds left in regulation. In the extra session, Levi Dela Cruz went to work by scoring seven points to give Arellano the win.
"Everyone chipped in actually - (Archie) Concepcion, Alban, and then Dela Cruz in overtime," Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera said, who used the extra off days to continue to prepare for their opening game.
The Chiefs' first game was originally scheduled on July 10 against defending champions San Beda Red Lions. They were also supposed to face the Perpetual Help Altas last Tuesday, July 17. But the two play dates had to be postponed due to inclement weather. So instead of having their opening game more than a week ago, they had to wait for the Generals in their home gym.
Hamadou Laminou and Juju Bautista posted huge double-doubles for EAC. Laminou had 14 points and 12 rebounds while Bautista has 14 and 16. But the Achilles' heel of the Generals in Thursday's game was their free throw shooting. In the closely contested game, they shot a dismal 17-for-46 from the charity stripe.
Their horrid shooting from the line haunted them till the closing moments. Down by four, 73-69, with a little over a minute remaining, the Generals still had a chance. Unfortunately, they missed four free throws in their next two plays - two from Jan Natividad and two from Bautista. Arellano's Dela Cruz capitalized and knocked down the dagger with 18.2 seconds left.
"Actually, our crowd was a big help. Ever since, they are our sixth man," shared Codiñera as Arellano was the second stop of NCAA on Tour.
The Chiefs won't have to wait too long for their next game as they go up against last year's runners-up the Lyceum Pirates on July 24.
THE SCORES
ARELLANO 75 - Concepcion 15, Alban 13, Alcoriza 12, Dela Cruz 12, Villoria 9, Canete 7, Meca 4, Serajosef 2, Dela Torre 1, Abdurassad 0, Bayla 0, Codinera 0, Ongolo Ongolo 0, Sacramento 0, Santos 0
EAC 69 - Bautista 14, Cruz 14, Laminou 14, Garcia 7, Mendoza 7, Natividad 5, Robin 4, Diego 2, Magullano 2, Bugarin 0, Cadua 0, Gonzales 0, Neri 0, Tampoc 0
QUARTER SCORES: 20-13, 31-26, 49-48, 63-63, 75-69 (OT)