Game today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
3 p.m. — EAC vs San Sebastian
San Sebastian College and Emilio Aguinaldo College collide in a battle between slumping teams in Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Action starts at 3 p.m. with the Stags looking to stop its four-game losing skid against the Generals, who have yet to win in eight matches.
San Sebastian’s average losing margin is just 5.5 points, prompting it to go hard against EAC, which is definitely expected to put up a fight in a bid to revive its sluggish campaign.
“I hope we could have better end-game executions and decision-makings. That’s our main concern right now,” said Stags coach Egay Macaraya, whose wards are coming off a tough 79-82 overtime loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University last Sunday.
After a strong performance in the off-season, the Stags marched into battle as heavy favorites.
But after winning two of its first three games, San Sebastian sputtered, sending it to the bottom of the standings with a 2-5 record, way behind leaders College of Saint Benilde (7-1) and Lyceum (7-2).
Macaraya said they have to get their acts together to turn things around.
“We have to be consistent against them. Our players are all healthy and are ready to play on Friday,” Macaraya said, adding that a convincing win over the Generals will boost their confidence and empower them for a strong rally in the second round.
“We can’t take EAC lightly in our match after seeing the team almost beat Letran College.”
But winning over the dangerous Generals will not be easy.
EAC is coming off a 58-62 heartbreaker of a loss to reigning champion Knights last Wednesday so it is expected to march with chip on its shoulder in a bid to pluck a breakthrough victory.
“The positive things we did in the game against Letran, we have to make them consistent in our next game,” said EAC forward Adam Doria, who scored 16 points for the Generals against the Knights, said.
“Coach told me to earn my minutes. I just did the extra work and I’m ready if I will be called to play.”