IF there’s one key takeaway for EAC Generals after they suffered their biggest loss in the NCAA Season 101 on Tuesday against the San Beda Red Lions, it’s that they’re gonna have to work double-time to make up for their lack of size.
With little to no big men to stand against the likes of the returning Yukien Andrada, Bryan Sajonia, and Zed Etulle, the Generals got dominated off the glass 53-37 – resulting in an 81-64 blowout loss to drop to 1-3 for the tournament.
READ: San Beda vents ire on EAC to recover footing in NCAA Season 101
Such disparity in size is not lost on head coach Jerson Cabiltes.
“From the first quarter, we're totally out-rebounded,” Cabiltes said.
“At halftime, medyo malayo yung gap sa rebounding and second chance points. So, we need to look at the tapes and work on it in our next game.”
Nevertheless, the third-year coach lauded his bench, led by Nico Quinal who finished with nine marks, as they gave the Generals some semblance of fight in an otherwise wire-to-wire rout.
Forwards Jaerolan Omandac and Brianne Angeles chipped in as well, tallying seven points each in their 15 minutes on the floor.
“Nakita ko naman eh, yung iba naman nag-step up when I used the bench,” Cabiltes said.
"So, hopefully in our next game, they're gonna get their confidence back and prepare [for] our game against Arellano.”
There’s still time for revolution
Even with only one win to show for before they enter their crossover matchups, there is still ample room for the Generals to make some key adjustments on the battlefield.
The former MPBL and PBA D-League champion coach isn’t about to press the panic button amid their slow start.
“Still too early. Yung highest win [differential] sa grupo namin is two [games], San Beda is with three wins, so anything can happen. So, hopefully we can win our next few games,” Cabiltes said.
“Marami pa,” he continued when asked on the things that he wants to work on. “So, we need to work harder especially on the rebounding department kasi mas maliliit talaga kami sa kalaban.”
As the last remaining school in the NCAA to not even get a sniff of the final four, there’s no denying that the ultimate goal this year is to avoid being on the outside looking in.
But even before that, the bigger goal right now is avoiding the narrowest of misses that they fell victim to last season.
“As much as possible kasi, we don't want to be in the play-in, eh. So, yun yung unang goal namin, huwag mag-play-in.”
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