Jerson Cabiltes finally got what he sought after for the longest time on Wednesday evening.
Cabiltes signed on the dotted line earlier tonight at Emerald Garden restaurant in Roxas Boulevard. Also present were school president Dr. Jose Paulo Campos, vice president for administration and mancom representative Lorenzo Lorenzo, and Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards team owner Bong Cuevas.
For Cabiltes — who has won at the high school level and, as well as, the MPBL, PBA D-League, Filbasket, and VisMin Super Cup, it was a dream realized.
“Ever since talaga it’s my dream to coach a collegiate team,” he expressed to Tiebreaker Times. “Kumbaga it’s my fulfillment to do so.
“Nasubukan na nating lahat to the professional to the semi professional league to high school, nakapag-champion tayo. Now, sa EAC ita-try natin gawin ulit yan dito.”
However, the Generals have long been the cellar-dwellers of the NCAA.
Since joining the league in NCAA Season 85, EAC has yet to reach the Final Four. The closest the General got was back in Season 89 when they were just a game shy of forcing a playoff for the semifinals.
EAC has either finished in ninth or last place in the 10-team league — including a 10th-place finish last season.
Cabiltes knows that this one is going to be tough. But he is setting the bar high for his first year as Generals head coach.
Final Four or bust.
“Big challenge for me ito,” he said.
“Our goal is to make the Final Four in our first year and go beyond that after.”
