Coach Vergel Meneses. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Losing in controversial fashion to Emilio Aguinaldo College on Tuesday, Jose Rizal U coach Vergel Meneses believes that the dramatic ending to its 63-60 defeat wouldn’t have happened if not for its paltry start.
“My starters had a bad start. They think na kayang kaya nila yung EAC,” he said. “Sinabi ko na sa kanila na natatalo yung EAC sa last minute na lang ng games.”
True to his words, the Heavy Bombers suffered the consequences.
A sluggish start put JRU in peril early on, falling behind 34-19 at halftime before making a late run which
fell flat in the end.
Tey Teodoro still had a chance to tie the game after he was fouled by Jorem Morada while shooting a three at the buzzer. The referees, however, deemed the call was made after the game clock expired as the Generals escaped with the thrilling victory.
Though Meneses disagrees with the ruling, he thinks that pursuing a protest would already be a lost cause.
“Sa akin, yung interpretation ko, yung contact, usually naman yung tawag late yan eh. Nung tiningnan namin may time pa, pero yun ang call nila at wala naman kaming magagawa,” he said. “Pag-uusapan pa sa school kung itutuloy yung protest. Pero kung ako yung tatanungin, wag na lang. Because of that, mananalo ka or uulitin yung game. Parang ang pangit naman.”
“Let’s give credit to EAC, they played well.”
The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for JRU, which is still at the outside looking in at the NCAA Season 92 Final Four with a 7-6 card.
Meneses is hoping to loss would serve as a wakeup call for the Heavy Bombers to get their acts together late in the eliminations.
“We cannot afford to lose. Kung nanalo kami, aakyat kami at makaka-separate kami,” he said. “Siguro baka kailangan na gisingin ko rin sila.”