Head coach: Vergel Meneses
Last season: 9-9 (5th)
Holdovers: Teytey Teodoro, Ervin Grospe, Gio Lasquety
Key losses: Darius Estrella (ACL tear during the preseason), Jordan dela Paz, Paulo Pontejos
Jose Rizal University has proven itself to be a contender in the NCAA, appearing in the Final Four several times and fighting for a semifinals spot year in and year out.
Back in Season 92, the Heavy Bombers weren’t so fortunate when they settled for just the fifth seed and missed the Final Four.
Come Season 93, though, head coach Vergel Meneses wants to instill a belief in his players that JRU can, and will, put up a fight against the whole league.
“What’s important is they should start believing that we can make in the NCAA, that we can beat anybody,” said Meneses. “We should build the mental toughness in our players. The bench guys should develop it but it’s understandable because they’re new to the team.”
JRU, though falling short in the semifinals in Season 92, produced memorable wins against eventual champions San Beda, Season 91 champions Letran, and Mapua.
And the Heavy Bombers look to improve from their already solid Season 92 outing in Season 93.
The core of Teytey Teodoro, Abdel Poutouochi, Ervin Grospe, and Jio Lasquety is still leading the team and Meneses seem eager to bank on what he has to push for bigger things in the following tournament.
“We’re not that easily beaten, we have ambition, and whoever the players left in the team I’m sure that I’ll be challenging them this season,” said Meneses.