JRU: From rookie-laden team to contenders
With former NCAA champions Lawrence Mangubat and Chris Hubilla joining the fold, Jose Rizal University enters Season 102 with a much different roster from the one that competed a year ago.
The two former Mapua standouts quickly made an impact in the offseason, helping the Heavy Bombers capture their first-ever FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup championship.
JRU swept NCAA champion San Beda in the best-of-three Finals, winning Game 1, 70-59, before taking Game 2, 74-67. Mangubat led the way with 27 points in the clincher and was named tournament MVP, while Hubilla also earned a spot on the Mythical Team.
But the bigger question now is whether the Heavy Bombers can carry that success into the league.
JRU finished Season 101 with a 6-7 record and reached the quarterfinals, where it fell to Perpetual Help. Despite missing the Final Four, the Heavy Bombers showed promise with a young core that included Sean Salvador and Allan Laurenaria, while Ivan Panapanaan stood out by earning a spot on the NCAA All-Defensive Team.
Now, that core returns with another season of NCAA experience.
Championship Experience Arrives at JRU
More importantly, JRU has added two players who have already been through the pressure of an NCAA championship run.
Mangubat and Hubilla were part of Mapua’s title-winning team in Season 100 before transferring to JRU. Their experience gives the Heavy Bombers proven winners to pair with the players who gained valuable experience during last season’s campaign.
JRU also showed it can compete with the NCAA’s top teams during FilOil, knocking off Letran in the semifinals before sweeping San Beda in the Finals.
But preseason success does not guarantee the same results in the NCAA.
Can JRU End Its Final Four Drought?
JRU has not reached the Final Four since 2017. After last season’s quarterfinal exit, the Heavy Bombers now have a chance to end that drought in Season 102.
The Heavy Bombers were still finding their footing with a young roster last season.
Now, with that experience behind them and two former champions joining the mix, JRU enters Season 102 with a chance to prove that its preseason championship was more than just a promising start.
