Double-double gives EAC Happi ending

MANILA, Philippines - Cameroonian Noube Happi turned in a double-double performance to power Emilio Aguinaldo to an emphatic 76-61 victory over an undermanned St. Benilde in a fight-marred game in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The 6-7 Happi came through with 18 points and a game-high 21 rebounds while adding five assists to help the Generals close out their first round assignment with a victory that snapped a seven-game skid for a 2-7 slate.

Later in the night, defending champion San Beda used a pesky defense to overpower a listless Jose Rizal U side, 62-37, and gain a share of the lead with arch rival San Sebastian at 6-1.

Kyle Pascual scored 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds while the rest of the Lions shackled the Bombers from start to finish to hold the latter to their worst scoring output in the season.

JRU, which averaged 76.6 points after seven games, dropped to third with Perpetual Help at 6-2.

The Generals’ victory, however, was marred by the ejection of EAC coach Gerry Esplana and St. Benilde’s Rhoel Maconocido less than a minute left in the contest.

Maconocido elbowed EAC’s Francis Munsayac in the head while Esplana joined in the fray that resulted to their disqualification.

But the EAC mentor said he was just trying to pacify his players.

“I was just trying to stop my players to do the other players harm, eventually, the refs saw it the other way,” he said.

The commotion started after Joseph Tolentino was called for an offensive foul after elbowing in the face Munsayac, who attacked the latter in retaliation. After cooler heads prevailed, Tolentino and Munsayac were assessed with a technical foul each.

But the day belonged to Happi, who dominated a smaller frontcourt rotation by St. Benilde, which showed up without top scorer Carlo Lastimosa and Jonathan Grey, who were suspended by the school for disciplinary action. The Blazers slid to 3-6.