Key losses: Nat Cosejo, JP Maguliano, Ralph Robin
Key holdovers: King Gurtiza, Kyle Ochavo
Additions: Harvey Pagsanjan, Axel Doromal, Deo Lucero, Jude Bagay
Season 99 record: 9-9 (7th)
After years of heartbreaks and shortcomings, Emilio Aguinaldo College was hoping for a change to come.
They got exactly that last year when the Generals handed Jerson Cabiltes the coaching reins and he delivered immediately, leading the school to its best finish in a decade with an impressive 9-9 slate.
However, it was still not enough after they failed to catch the Final Four bus — the same predicament the squad has been going through since joining the league and is hoping to put an end to this coming Season 100.
Luckily for Cabiltes, he has the necessary pieces to solve this long-standing puzzle.
Leading the brigade for the Generals is seasoned guard and graduating team captain King Gurtiza.
The 25-year-old baller showed last year that he can carry this team on his back, pouring in 11.56 points a game in a season where they defeated the likes of Benilde, LPU, and Letran, three of the four semifinalists from the season prior.
Gurtiza, eager to close out his collegiate career on a high note, said the team is running like a well-oiled machine now despite being bugged by injuries in the offseason.
"‘Yung chemistry sobrang solid ngayon kahit marami kaming bago kasi iba ‘yung samahan namin, lahat nagkukulitan, walang grupo grupo sa amin. Lahat sama-sama," Gurtiza said.
"Siguro naging factor ['yung injuries] kasi sa chemistry namin parang kulang pero beterano naman halos lahat sa amin so kaya naman naming i-handle ‘to lalo na ngayon na last season na namin."
But Gurtiza alone can't get the job done.
EAC knows this much as they now brought in two veteran transferees in Harvey Pagsanjan and Axel Doromal, who are both tipped to forge a strong backcourt alliance with Gurtiza.
Pagsanjan was among the leading guards for UE in UAAP Season 85, churning out 5.08 points, 4.08 rebounds, 0.85 assists, and 0.92 steals, while the 25-year-old Doromal was the top scorer for Arellano University back in Season 98, posting 16.0 markers together with 3.33 boards, and 2.39 dimes.
They now bring these pedigree in EAC. But eyes won't be on them alone.
The Generals are also parading several big additions in former Arellano Chiefs Wilmar Oftana, Deo Lucero, and Jude Bagay as EAC tries to fill the gap left by the troika of Nat Cosejo, Ralph Robin, and Season 99 Mythical Five member JP Maguliano.
Holdovers Brianne Angeles, Jethro Bacud, Ckierlvin Ednilag, Gelo Loristo, JC Luciano, Kyle Ochavo, Nicole Quinal, and Erlan Umpad are also expected to step up for second-year coach Cabiltes.
Gurtiza believes this current lineup has what it takes to go the distance in the centennial season.
"Sa tingin ko oo, kasi ‘yung mga missing pieces namin last season parang napunan naman," Gurtiza said.
"Sobrang okay ‘yung team, ang sarap sa feeling na maglaro nang kumpleto kasi this past few months, puro injuries kami sa team so ngayon na kumpleto kami, mas masarap sa feeling."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
