Cosejo, Maguliano power Generals over Knights

Nat Cosejo and JP Maguliano took charge despite the absence of head coach Jerson Cabiltes and powered Emilio Aguinaldo College to an 82-69 win over defending champion Letran in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Friday, Nov. 3.

Cosejo, who finished with a double-double outing of 18 points and 10 rebounds and Maguliano, who shone with 20 points and nine rebounds, spearheaded the offense for the Generals after the reigning titlists Knights threatened to mount a comeback with the lead trimmed to just four, 43-39, in the third quarter.

Anchored on Kyle Ochavo’s 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc, the Paco-based squad unleashed a 25-12 surge before going into the payoff period to make it 68-51.

Kevin Santos and Kobe Monje tried to rally Letran back to the game, but Ralph Robin was on target in the fourth period to help EAC tally its seventh win against five losses and sit behind fourth place teams San Beda and Benilde (7-4).

It didn’t help for Letran’s cause with Kurt Reyson sidelined in the second half after nursing a hamstring sprain according to their physical therapist.

Robin chipped in 16 points while Ochavo had nine points, four rebounds and seven assists.

Monje topped the scoring for Letran with 14 while Santos finished with 10 for the Knights (1-11) who are officially out of the Final Four race.