JOSE Rizal University head coach Nani Epondulan knows exactly what his Heavy Bombers need to do after taking their first loss of NCAA Season 102.
Learn.
The Heavy Bombers fell to defending champion San Beda in a tight 65-62 finish on Saturday, with Epondulan pointing to their free-throw shooting and late-game execution as the difference in a game where JRU failed to make the most of its chances.
The Heavy Bombers shot just 10-of-23 from the charity stripe, which could have made a difference in the endgame.
READ: San Beda leans on Torculas, Ugaddan to hand JRU first S102 loss
“It’s either we win or we learn,” Epondulan told SPIN.ph.
JRU also had its opportunities down the stretch, but could not execute when it mattered most, including crucial turnovers by Lawrence Mangubat and Chris Hubilla coming off a timeout.
“Execution and then focus,” Epondulan said.
“Coming off a timeout, some of the players, hindi alam kung ano yung gagawin kung saan sila pupunta.”
Those miscues became part of the lessons the mentor wants his team to take from its first defeat, with Epondulan already looking ahead to their film session and the adjustments they need to make.
“For sure, this game, after, mamaya, review na naman kami ng game film. And then, i-identify kung saan kami mga kulang,” he said.
The Shaw-based team also got strong efforts from Hubilla, who finished with 14 points, Jamhir Eligado with 13 markers, and even Mangubat, who struggled against Andrei Ugaddan but still finished with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
But the shot-caller felt the Heavy Bombers needed more players to step up, especially against a San Beda side that was able to execute better in the closing stretch.
“Aside from Mangubat and Hubilla, wala nang nag-step up eh,” Epondulan said.
The second-year tactician will now look at their rotations and combinations to figure out what went wrong, knowing the Heavy Bombers still have plenty of time to address their problems with the season only getting started.
“Marami pa talagang kulang. Maraming pa dapat improve, marami pa dapat pagtuunan ng pansin,” Epondulan stressed.
And for Epondulan, that is exactly what this early stumble is for.
The loss may have ended JRU’s unbeaten start, but it also gave the Heavy Bombers a chance to see where they still need to grow.
“Maaga pa naman. So, this is the time to improve pa yung mga dapat na-improve at the same time madagdagan pa yung mga kulang.”
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