Emilio Aguinaldo College enters the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball quarterfinals as the team with the best record, finishing the group phase with a 10–3 card to top Group B.
With this, the Brigadiers also earned a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
The real challenge, however, begins on Friday when it faces San Sebastian College-Recoletos for a semifinals berth in the high school tournament.
For head coach Noy Catalan, the job is far from finished despite the team’s rare achievement.
“Siyempre, ang nangyayari ngayon, first time nangyayari ito sa EAC. Sabi nga nila, history, pero hindi kami nakokontento,” Catalan told GMA News Online.
“Sabi ko sa mga bata, hangga’t wala kayong trophy sa harapan n’yo, ‘wag muna kayong makokontento kasi balewala itong panalo natin kung hindi rin natin makukuha ’yan.”
Meanwhile, Group A leader Mapua University will face San Beda University in the quarterfinals on Friday morning. The do-or-die battle between defending champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and twice-to-beat Colegio de San Juan de Letran will be held on Sunday.
—GMA Integrated News