Jerson Cabiltes made sure to get an important piece in his process of rebuilding Emilio Aguinaldo College.
His former player in Hope Christian Harvey Pagsanjan has completed his transfer from University of the East to EAC, attending his first class on Tuesday.
“Harvey is very important to me especially here in EAC. Me and Coach Steve (Tiu) have known him since he was still a kid,” said Cabiltes.
“So for me, malaking bagay na kasama ko si Harvey dito sa EAC kahit for one year lang.”
Pagsanjan will have to sit out one year before getting to play in NCAA Season 100. He will be a one-and-done with the Generals.
The 6-foot guard’s decision to go to EAC game all of a sudden as he already signed with MPBL team Nueva Ecija.
(C) Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards
“Actually, akala ko talaga pro na and MPBL. Yun yung mindset ko talaga, kalimutan na yung college. Kaso si Coach Jerson, after one week ko pag-sign sa Nueva, tinawagan niya ko. Sabi niya, ‘Ayusin mo na papers mo dahil na hire na ko sa EAC’,” Pagsanjan shared to Tiebreaker Times.
“Siyempre, si Coach Jerson at Coach Steve yun. Tinutulungan nila ko sa lahat. Gusto ko rin makatulong sa kanila at parehas kami mag-bebenefit.”
With this, the Rice Vanguards have re-configured Pagsanjan’s contract from a pro player into a special guest player.
“Maglalalaro ako sa MPBL, residency pa naman ako nun,” the 24-year-old native of Nueva Ecija clarified.
During his senior year at UE, Pagsanjan averaged 5.08 points and 4.08 rebounds per contest.
Pagsanjan knows that there will be huge pressure on his shoulders, especially with him being a UAAP player going to the NCAA. There is also an added burden on him to lead EAC to a place it never has been in — the final four.
“Ako sanay naman ako sa underdog, kahit nung nasa UE at high school. Mas masaya makatalo ng big fish di ba?” he said.
“Sana mabago namin yung culture sa EAC. Winner talaga si Coach Jerson at susunod ako sa desisyon nila lagi ni Coach Steve (Tiu). You can never go wrong with them.”
