The JRU Heavy Bombers are United in their Belief

For years, Jose Rizal University searched for the formula that could bring the Heavy Bombers back among the NCAA’s contenders.

There were seasons when talent wasn’t the problem. There were years when the roster looked promising on paper. Yet whenever JRU faced the league’s traditional powers, the same questions resurfaced: was the program still a step behind? Could it really compete with schools that had spent decades building championship cultures?

Last Tuesday, the Heavy Bombers gave their strongest answer yet.

JRU defeated defending NCAA Season 101 champion San Beda, 70-59, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup Finals. On the surface, it was one victory in a preseason tournament. Inside the JRU locker room, however, it represented something much bigger.

It was evidence that the Heavy Bombers were finally becoming the team they had spent months trying to build. That transformation wasn’t built around one player, nor was it built around one game.

Coach Nani Epondulan has watched that process unfold every day. For him, the biggest improvement wasn’t measured by wins or losses, but by the maturity his players have developed through months of preparation.

“Lagi kong sinasabi sa inyo na nag-mature na yung mga players. Pero iba yung leadership na talagang ini-exhibit nila. Sa practice pa lang, nakikita na ng mga bata kung paano sila magtrabaho. Lagi naming sinasabi, bawal magkamali. Hindi dahil ayaw naming magkamali sila, kundi gusto naming maging habit na gawin lagi yung tama.” Coach Nani explained in the press room. 

The emphasis on discipline begins long before game day.

Every practice is treated with the same urgency as a championship game. Every possession matters. Every mistake becomes an opportunity to reinforce the standards the coaching staff expects.

That environment became even stronger with the arrival of Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat. The two former Mapúa standouts didn’t simply bring experience from a championship program; they brought winning habits.

For Hubilla, that meant teaching younger teammates how to approach pressure.

“Yung naging ambag ko sa team noong galing ako sa residency, yun ang sinasabi ko sa kanila na be composed lang sa lahat ng mga kalaban namin. Hindi lang puwedeng porket San Beda ang kaharap namin, mababackdown kami. Lahat kami nagba-basketball naman. Kung sino yung willing magtrabaho, willing kumuha ng 50-50 ball, yun naman talaga yung mananalo.” Chris Hubilla shares with ALL-STAR. 

His message never revolved around fearing opponents or dwelling on reputations. Instead, he constantly reminded his teammates that basketball remains a game decided by effort, preparation, and execution. That perspective naturally pushed Hubilla into becoming one of JRU’s leaders.

“Ako na naging kuya-kuya nila sa team. Nashi-share ko yung mga learning experience ko nung nasa Mapúa pa ako. Nakikinig naman sila kapag sinasabihan ko sila.” He adds. 

Mangubat embraced that responsibility alongside him.

The move to JRU didn’t just require him to learn a new playbook. It challenged him to become someone younger players could depend on both during games and in everyday training.

“Especially, dalawa kami ni Chris. Parang na-transfer namin yung experience namin. Sa mga bata sa JRU, kami yung nagiging parang kuya-kuya. Kailangan namin silang dalhin at kailangan naming maging better leader sa kanila.” Lawrence Mangubat shared with ALL-STAR. 

Later, Mangubat admitted that becoming one of JRU’s primary veterans also meant stepping outside his comfort zone.

“Kailangan ko talagang mag-step up. Kami ni Chris yung may experience sa championship sa Mapúa. Gusto kong maging leader sa team. Gusto kong madala sila, sa ensayo at sa game. Gusto ko one page kaming lahat.” He adds.

That phrase “one page” perfectly captures what JRU has become. The Heavy Bombers rely on everyone believing in the same direction.

That commitment also required adjustments from the coaching staff.

Epondulan didn’t ask Hubilla and Mangubat to fit into an existing structure. Instead, the team found ways to maximize what both veterans already did well while staying true to the team’s identity.

Mangubat explained that the adjustments were subtle but meaningful.

“May mga adjustment namang nangyari. Sa plays namin, sa game plan namin. May game plan kay Chris, may game plan sa akin. Lalo na sa crucial moments, kami yung may experience sa championship kaya kami yung nilalagay sa ganung sitwasyon para madala yung team.” Mangubat explains. 

The veterans were trusted in late-game situations because they had already experienced those moments before, while the younger players continued learning within the same framework.

That trust extended throughout the roster. Hubilla repeatedly emphasized that JRU’s success had little to do with individual performances. It came from everyone accepting their responsibilities.

“Lahat kami nagtulong-tulong. Tinanggap lang namin yung role ng bawat isa. Kahit naman tumulong kami sa team, kung hindi rin kami tutulungan ng bawat isa, hindi magiging madali yung laro.” Hubilla explains. 

The belief inside the locker room became especially important during stretches when almost nobody outside of it expected JRU to compete.

“Sabi nga nila, wala naman sa amin na naniniwala. Kami lang ang nagtiwala sa coaches namin, nagtiwala sa teammates namin, at nagtiwala kay God. Yung circle lang namin yung pinaniwalaan namin.” Hubilla added.

That trust became even more meaningful against San Beda. Facing the defending NCAA champions could have easily become an intimidating moment.

Instead, Mangubat reminded the team to focus on themselves.

“Sinabi lang namin sa kanila na focus lang kayo sa game. Magkaisa tayong lahat at huwag kayong ma-pressure.”

For Epondulan, defeating San Beda represented something that couldn’t be reflected in the standings. It gave his players confidence.

“Playing San Beda, the defending champion of last year’s NCAA, and beating them is a big moral booster for the team. Not only for me, but all of the other players. Parang nagsisimula na silang maniwala.”

Even with JRU holding a 1-0 lead in the championship series, the coaching staff has refused to let the moment become a distraction. The message remains the same: stay in the present.

“One game at a time lang kami. Kapag inisip na namin agad yung NCAA habang FilOil pa, magugulo lang yung focus namin.” Coach Epondulan adds. 

The Heavy Bombers allowed themselves a brief moment to appreciate the victory before immediately turning their attention back to the next game.

“Magse-celebrate kami konti, kakain lang. Pagbalik sa dorm, reset na ulit. Sabi ko sa kanila, paghirapan muna natin ngayon. Saka na tayo mag-happy-happy kapag nakuha na natin. Hindi pa tapos yung trabaho.” Coach Epondulan adds. 

For Hubilla, that mindset reflects the same lesson he learned as a champion at Mapúa.

“Yung kumpiyansa naman, sa sarili mo magsisimula yun. Kung may doubt ka sa sarili mo, hindi mo rin makukuha yung kumpiyansa mo. Kailangan mo rin talaga trabahuin para pagdating ng laro, may kumpiyansa ka.” Hubilla explains.

The Heavy Bombers still have another game to win before they can call themselves champions. Everyone inside the program understands that. But if this preseason has revealed anything about JRU, it is that the team’s biggest improvement isn’t found in a new offensive set or a different defensive scheme.

It is found in a locker room that has fully embraced one system, one culture, and one belief.