THERE will be a new man at the helm for Jose Rizal University come Season 101 of the NCAA.
Former Heavy Bomber Nani Epondulan was named head coach of the Mandaluyong-based school in a virtual homecoming for the onetime 5-foot-11 guard.
JRU confirmed the appointment on its Facebook page Friday night.
Epondulan takes over a program previously led by Louie Gonzalez, whose team finished last in Season 100 with a 4-14 record. The last time the Heavy Bombers advanced to the Final Four was back in 2017, when Vergel Meneses was still calling the shots.
Welcome home, coach Nani
The new JRU coach played for the Heavy Bombers in the late '90s and early '00s and was hailed as Season 77 MVP.
Then, Epondulan led his team to two Finals appearances in Seasons 75 and 77, when they fell to Letran and San Sebastian, respectively.
Not long after his playing career, he found his calling on the sidelines where he eventually wound up as a trusted assistant of Randy Alcantara, now the tactician of champion Mapua.
Epondulan also had served as part of the coaching staff of Cafe France, CEU Scorpions, and the San Juan Knights, where he worked under Alcantara.
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