Erasing Nineteen: How EAC Overcame the Storm to Shock Benilde

A nineteen-point deficit is a mountain most teams simply cannot climb, especially when looking up at one of the tournament frontrunners.

For the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, staring down a massive 54-35 hole against the College of Saint Benilde was a moment that could have easily slipped away. After dropping back-to-back games and sitting near the bottom of the standings, the odds were stacked firmly against them.

Instead of folding, EAC chose to fight.

Sparked by a relentless collective effort and an explosive second-half adjustment, the Generals slowly chipped away at the margin before storming ahead in the final frame. Led by Joseph Nunag off the bench and a complete team-first mentality anchored by head coach Jerson Cabiltes, EAC pulled off the stunning 86-78 comeback win to halt Benilde’s four-game winning streak.

It was a stark reminder of what grit and trusting the system look like—proving that in a league full of heavyweights, no lead is ever truly safe.

The Scores:

EAC 86 – Nunag 17, Oftana 15, Shanoda 13, Castillo 12, Bagay 7, Coronel 7, M. Raymundo 6, Ochavo 3, H. Raymundo 3, Bonus 3, Luna 0, Sealey 0.

Benilde 78 – Sanchez 16, Morales 16, Ancheta 14, Moore 11, Jucom 6, Arciaga 5, Cajucom 5, Podador 3, Go 2, Torres 0, Lorenzo 0, Jarque 0, Daja 0.

Quarterscores: 23-29, 40-56, 68-71, 86-78.

Photo Credits: NCAA Philippines Media