Emilio Aguinaldo College may have scored a historic breakthrough win against San Beda University - their first-ever in the NCAA in 15 years - but head coach Jerson Cabiltes believes that won't matter if they aren't able to sustain the momentum in their next assignments.
The Generals, red-hot from the opening tip, led by as many as 29 points en route to a convincing 68-55 triumph. The whole EAC bench clicked from the long range to stun a misfiring San Beda side with veterans Harvey Pagsanjan and JC Luciano burying four and three triples, respectively, contributing to the team's 13 triples made.
"Hopefully this game gets us on track in the coming games kasi even though if we ended this skid of losing to San Beda, walang kwenta ‘yan if we’re not gonna make it to the Final Four," Cabiltes said on Tuesday.
"So the only record we’re concerned about right now is for EAC to make it to the Final Four."
[Hopefully this game gets us on track in the coming games because even though we ended this skid of losing to San Beda, that's not worth much if we're ot gonna make it to the Final Four... So the only record we're concerned about right now is for EAC to make it to the Final Four.]
Cabiltes admitted securing one over a team that had dominated the school since 2009 is a huge morale booster. But he added that they will need more if they want to end another drought of making it to the Final Four.
Ever since joining the league, the Generals have never made it to the Final Four stage with its best finish coming in during their Season 89 run in 2013 behind Sidney Onwubere, Cedric Happi, and Jan Jamon, with head coach Gerry Esplana at the helm, as that team went 10-8. Incidentally, Onwubere, who now plays for NorthPort in the PBA, was present to witness EAC break its losing skid to San Beda.
Last Season 99, the Generals also had their best finish in a decade when Cabiltes took over the coaching reins and led the squad to a 9-9 win-loss card.
But while they are now slowly gaining their identity in the centennial season, Cabiltes said he would like to stay grounded as they embrace their darkhorse tag.
"Darkhorse pa rin kami kasi nandiyan 'yung Benilde, Mapua, at San Beda. We just want to be the darkhorse, hayaan niyo na yung limelight sa kanila," Cabiltes said.
[We're still a darkhorse because you still have Benilde, Mapua, and San Beda. We just want to be the darkhorse, we can leave the limelight on them.]
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—JMB, GMA Integrated News
