Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals

Emilio Aguinaldo College is eyeing not just to do good in basketball but also in all other sports as it bids for regular membership when the 90th NCAA season unfurls on June 28 at the MOA Arena in Pasay.

The Generals are coming off creditable performances last season, their best since entering the league several years ago, ending up fifth.

EAC hopes to use it as a springboard to bigger successes this year.

The Generals will be fielding almost the same lineup that came one win short of advancing to the Final Four after winding up with a 10-8 (win-loss) record, their best performance since they were accepted as associate members five seasons ago.

EAC coach Gerald Esplana said they draw inspiration from their strong performance a season ago.

 â€œThe past few years were a great experience for us because we learned a lot of things,” said Esplana, a former PBA star. “Last year was the eye-opener because it showed us that we could compete against the best of them.”

Returning this year for the Generals are Cameroon’s Noube Happi, Jan Jamon, Igee King, John Tayongtong, Jack Arquero and Sidney Onwubere, all vital cogs in last year’s surprising run.

Esplana says they are eyeing no less than a Final Four spot this year but for them to achieve it, his team will need to double its efforts and beat or be at par with the best.

“Of course, we need to double our efforts and beat or compete against the best team, which is San Beda, for us to go where we want to go,” said Esplana.

And that is where Happi comes in as the 6-7 Cameroonian is one of the few players equipped to guard San Beda’s 6-8 Nigerian import Ola Adeogun.

“We need Cedric (Happi) to step up,” said Esplana. – Joey Villar

Roster

1. Aguilar, Ariel Y.
2. Arquero, Jack Lord S.
3. General, Jozhua Macdaniel P.
4. Happi Noube, Cedric Benjamin
5. Indin, Ai - Rashid G.
6. King, Igee Bobbie P.
7. Jamon, Jan Niccolo Q.
8. Mejos, Christ Fernan M.
9. Onwubere, Sidney Nelson B.
10. Pascual, Faustine O.
11. Quilanita, Mannelle Jinsen A.
12. Saludo, Edsel Roy M.
13. Santos, John Lenyer A.
14. Serrano, Jerald G.
15. Tayongtong, John Marco D.