The EAC Generals arguably took the worst blow on the final game day of NCAA 100. LPU’s upset win over Benilde in the first game extinguished what little remained of EAC’s hopes to make their first ever Final Four appearance.
At that emotional but forward-looking moment, head coach Jerson Cabiltes had one request: win their last season game– which they did– and move forward to Season 101.
With renewed focus energized by seasoned veterans leading a new batch of soldiers, the EAC Generals are shaping up for another crack at school pride and history.
NCAA SEASON 100 HEARTBREAKER
Coach Jerson Cabiltes and his Generals were precariously at the doorstep of history on the final game day of Season 100, but their fate, though shaped along the contours of their own doing in the eliminations, was ultimately decided by another team’s season-saving win.
Aside from the non-negotiable task of winning their eliminations-ender versus JRU, the EAC faithful first had to pray for a rather more crucial prerequisite: a Benilde victory over the No.4-ranked LPU, who were only half a game above the Generals in the standings.
But that day did not favor EAC. The Pirates took care of business and completed their upset, effectively kicking out the Generals from playoff contention even before the latter’s JRU assignment. Tears were shed, and farewells were given, and Cabiltes wanted nothing but for his boys to take what resonated and leave everything else behind.
“I can still remember the moment. The boys were crying at the dugout, I wasn't able to huddle properly and I just told them, ‘we need to lessen the pain we are feeling right now,’ and in order to lessen that pain, we should win our last game and move forward to 101,” he said in an exclusive interview with GMA Synergy.
The Generals made sure to do just that, taking home a 73-66 win over JRU in what would be the final career game of graduating troopers King Gurtiza, JC Luciano, and Harvey Pagsanjan.
GENERALS MARCHING ON
The EAC Generals were quick to accept their Season 100 destiny, choosing to appreciate the break in the clouds even with some of their key cogs’ departure.
Holding the fort for the Generals in Season 101 are seasoned veterans Kyle Ochavo, Wilmar Oftana, Deo Lucero, and Nico Quinal. Serviceable holdovers Jude Bagay, Joshua Tolentino, Joshua Devara, and Brianne Angeles are also at Cabiltes’ disposal.
“We are practicing very hard for the upcoming season. Although we are undersized, we have to compensate for it with other departments like speed and defense, so talagang pinaghandaan namin ito,” said the multi-titled coach.
“We want to sustain our heart and pride, and we will continue to play EAC basketball,” he added.
The Generals are also riding high on a productive offseason laced with multiple preseason tournaments here and abroad.
“With different types of games playing against [teams from] other countries, maganda yung exposure sa mga bata. Yung sistema naman iba-iba yan so kailangan ready kami whatever team or system,” he reminded.
Cabiltes also lauded EAC’s incoming recruits, with the likes of former San Sebastian Stag Jacob Shanoda and ex-Pirate Oman Omandac joining the fray.
“We have new recruits coming in– Shanoda and Omandac, tapos si EJ Castillo nga is coming from high school. Definitely those guys are ready for this, and si EJ alam naman natin very talented but he still needs to play within the system,” Cabiltes noted.
Castillo brings with him a Mythical Five selection in his last juniors basketball season with the EAC Brigadiers, averaging 19 points per contest (4th overall) and 3.4 assists in nine games.
“Medyo familiar naman sya kasi since high school ganun naman yung ginagawa. I think malaki yung contribution nila this season,” he said of the youngster.
“Everyone should step up. It is always a collective effort for me, offensively and defensively. I do not want to rely on any particular guy, kailangan lahat sila will play together in order to win,” Cabiltes concluded.
Whether or not this will be the year EAC finally gets their first taste of the Final Four in men’s basketball is up for this gear-shifting Generals marching onto NCAA Season 101.
“We are gonna compete very hard, we’ll treat each game like a playoff game. Kailangan pagdaanan namin lahat, talagang malakas yung other teams so kailangan we are ready for each game.”
