NAT Cosejo capped a successful weekend by helping last-place Emilio Aguinaldo College finally enter the win column after nine straight losses following a stunning 80-75 reversal of league-leading College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre yesterday.

A day after winning the All-Star Game MVP honors, Cosejo sustained his solid play with 24 points, including a floater that gave the Generals a 78-75 advantage with 48.7 seconds remaining, and nine rebounds.

The Blazers tried to turn things around, but it could not get the needed baskets down the stretch.

Benilde last led 73-70 on a Robi Nayve go-ahead three-pointer, but was held to a single field goal in the final 2:41.

“This is something special,” said EAC coach Oliver Bunyi. “Ang sabi sa mga bata, if you want this upset win, we need to have this effort and energy throughout the game. So, they delivered. They are more focused today and they were really decisive na magkakaroon ng panalo.”

Ralph Bajon added 16 points, while Adrian Balowa and Allen Liwag each scored 10 points for the Generals.

Earlier, Mapua logged its first winning streak of the season with a 62-59 decision over Lyceum of the Philippines University.

The top two teams in the first round, the Blazers and the Pirates fell to 7-2 and 7-3 records, respectively.

Will Gozum led Benilde with 19 points and nine rebounds while Nayve chipped in 13 points, seven boards and two steals.

Migs Oczon, the Blazers’ top gun who averaged 15.17 points in the first round, was held to only six points on a dismal 1-of-12 shooting from the field.

Trailing 42-48 after three quarters, the Cardinals flipped the switch in the payoff period behind JJ Pido, Paolo Hernandez and Warren Bonifacio to open their second-round campaign on a high note.

Still way behind in the Final Four race with a 2-8 record, Mapua is just taking things step by step with eight games left in the eliminations.

“Pinaka-motivation talaga namin huwag nang lumayo pa, huwag nang tumingin sa standing namin. Iyon na lang,” said Cardinals coach Randy Alcantara.

“Gawin na lang mga assignments namin. Hindi talaga madali ang season ngayon, pahirapan ang panalo,” he added.

Pido scored six of his 11 points in the final quarter and two assists, Warren Bonifacio had a double-double outing of 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Rence Nocum and Joaqui Garcia also tallied 10 markers for Mapua.

Mac Guadaña was the lone bright spot for LPU with 15 points, three assists and three rebounds.

The scores:

First game

Mapua (62) — Pido 11, Nocum 10, Bonifacio 10, Garcia 10, Hernandez 7, Mercado 4, Soriano 4, Cuenco 2, Parinas 2, Agustin 2, Salenga 0, Igliane 0, Lacap 0.
LPU (59) — Guadaña 15, Larupay 8, Umali 7, Bravo 6, Cunanan 6, Barba 4, Navarro 4, Montaño 4, Villegas 3, Valdez 2, Peñafiel 0, Omandac 0.
Quarterscores: 12-18, 30-29, 42-48, 62-59

Second game

EAC (80) — Cosejo 24, Bajon 16, Balowa 10, Liwag 10, Maguliano 6, Cosa 5, Dominguez 5, Ad. Doria 4, Quinal 0, Luciano 0, An. Doria 0, Tolentino 0.
St. Benilde (75) — Gozum 19, Nayve 13, Pasturan 11, Corteza 8, Oczon 6, Sangco 6, Lim 6, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Marcos 2, Flores 0, Mara 0, Lepalam 0, Davis 0.
Quarterscores: 19-18, 39-40, 57-59, 80-75.