Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) is one of the youngest teams in the NCAA, joining as a guest member in 2009 and being granted regular membership in 2015.
And while it has yet to emerge successful in terms of championships, EAC has proven that is always ready for a good fight.
The Generals first saw action in Season 85 as a guest team, and instantly made their case as they notched a 6-12 card to finish in sixth place. Though they have not always been as competitive, they have been able to rally behind some great individual talent the program can be proud to call their own.
Even before the college's stint in the NCAA, this tradition held true with Ronjay Buenafe, probably still the most prominent player in EAC’s history. He led the school to titles in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) and the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) before embarking on a storied pro career.
The 6-foot-2 guard was drafted 11th overall in the PBA Draft by the Coca-Cola Tigers, where he played from 2007 to 2009. He was part of the 2008 All-Rookie Team early in his journeyman career that saw him become part of nine different clubs.
The former EAC gunner’s jersey number 8 was later retired by the school due to his contributions.
Following in Buenafe’s footsteps are players like Fil-Nigerian Sidney Onwubere, who made the NCAA Mythical Five in 2017 before becoming a first round pick in the PBA. He now plays for one of the most popular teams in the league, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Aside from Onwubere, players like Hamadou Laminou and Cedric Happi Noube also had Mythical Five campaigns in strong showing for the Generals.
—JMB, GMA News
