EMILIO Aguinaldo College has transformed into a surprising contender in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

With rookie coach Jerson Cabiltes at the helm, the Generals have already matched their win total from last season in just five games.

Now tied with traditional powerhouse San Beda in fourth place at 3-2, EAC is determined to achieve a breakthrough Final Four stint which it has not achieved since joining the league in 2009.

On Wednesday, the Generals achieved something no other team had managed in Season 99 so far.

EAC dealt league-leading Lyceum of the Philippines University its first loss of the season with a 83-76 overtime win.

Despite the impressive feat, Cabiltes downplayed tarnishing the Pirates’ pristine record and simply treated it as an ordinary game.

For Cabiltes, only one record matters for the long-suffering Generals.

“I’m not here to break any record of them,” said Cabiltes.

“The winning streak or anything, losing streak para sa Letran or losing streak para sa amin. Isa lang yung streak na tinitingnan ko, and that’s making it to the Final Four. We will work hard in order to get there,” he added.

The win over LPU was no less special than any other victory because Cabiltes and his squad treat every team as a contender this season.

EAC started the tournament with a convincing 75-67 victory over darkhorse University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, followed by a 75-65 romp of defending three-time champion Letran.

“All teams are contenders,” said Cabiltes.

“Arellano dumikit doon sa Lyceum, JRU natalo nga sa Baste, so lahat naman yan, lahat contender. Wala naman masyadong nagbago sa EAC, its just we’re playing harder and we’re being more aggressive. Good thing sumusunod naman yung mga players to my instructions,” he added.

Up next for the Generals are the Chiefs, who are eyeing their first winning streak of the season, at 4 p.m. today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

San Sebastian and Perpetual collide in the day’s other game at 2 p.m.

Games today

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
2 p.m. – SSC-R vs Perpetual
4 p.m. – Arellano vs EAC