Altas survive Generals; Eze shines

MANILA, Philippines — Nigerian Prince Eze rose to the challenge and dished out a near triple-double game as Perpetual Help survived Emilio Aguinaldo College, 76-74, to move to solo third in the NCAA seniors basketball tournament at the EAC gym in Manila yesterday.

Edgar Charcos came away with a game-high 22 points but it was Eze who stepped up with a 15-point, 22-rebound and nine-block output to lift the Altas to a 2-1 mark behind unbeaten Lyceum of the Phl U (4-0) and San Beda (2-0).

The 6-9 Eze also held his ground in defense, limiting Cameroonian counterpart Hamadou Laminou to just 12 points after the latter normed a league-best 24 points.

“I challenged him (Eze) before the game that Laminou has an average of 24 points going into today (yesterday) and he has to limit him to 10 to 12 points or maybe 15 and that would be his job,” said Perpetual Help coach Frankie Lim.

Kim Aurin also came one rebound and two assists short of posting a rare triple-double as he scored 12 points while teaming up with Charcos and Eze to preserve their two-point victory.