EAC Generals eye NCAA Final Four

MANILA, Philippines — Anything less than a Final Four finish in the 90th NCAA Season would be a disappointment as far as Emilio Aguinaldo College is concerned.

The Generals came within a win of securing a playoff for the last postseason spot last year and expectations are high that they’ll finally get over the hump this season for the first time since joining the league in 2009.

The league opens Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City with defending champion San Beda squaring off with Jose Rizal U at 1 p.m., before Letran tests San Sebastian.

The Generals won’t be in action until July 3 when they tangle with St. Benilde.

“The players got a lot of confidence from their experience last year,” said EAC coach Gerry Esplana. “Making the Final Four this year is doable but we need to double our efforts.”

The Generals still have the core of the team that went a school-best 10-8 last season. Esplana’s wards actually won nine of their last 12 games.

Cameroonian big man Cedric Noube, Jan Jamon, Igee King, John Tayongtong, Jack Arquero and Sidney Onwubere are still around, boosting the Generals’ hopes of advancing to the Final Four.

“For us to have a good season, we need to find a way to beat San Beda or at least show them we can compete against them,” said Esplana.