BY MILES ARCENAL
AFTER finishing at the bottom last season, few expected Jose Rizal University to make a dent in the NCAA Season 101 especially after being grouped in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ alongside powerhouse squads St. Benilde, San Beda, Letran, and EAC.
Well, that only gave coach Nani Epondulan and the rest of these young Heavy Bombers the fuel that they needed to make a splash in the early goings off the tournament.
Even in their close loss to the EAC Generals, the Heavy Bombers have looked really good after shocking the Letran Knights in the opener before giving the San Beda Red Lions their first loss of the tournament on Friday, 67-66.
READ: JRU sends a statement in NCAA S101 after stunning San Beda late
“From the start of the season, yun naman yung sinasabi ko sa mga players namin eh na gawin naming gasolina yung mga wala kami doon sa usapan,” Epondulan said.
“Pero still unti-unting nararamdaman ng mga rookies namin na pwede pala, kaya pala.”
The shot caller’s message to his team was simple - trust the system, stay composed, and keep believing - even when San Beda tried to steal the game late, his Bombers refused to fold.
“Sabi ko lang sa kanila na yung composure nila have to be there, walang bibitaw sa sistema kasi yun yung reason kung bakit kami dumikit,” he recalled.
“Hanggang huli, I’m so proud of the boys na still naniwala sila and nag-stick sila do’n sa gameplan na ginagawa namin.”
It was a win that did more than just shake up the standings. It brought renewed faith to a community that had waited too long for a reason to believe again.
“A very big moral booster po para sa mga players ko, para sa akin, and for the school na medyo matagal-tagal na no’ng last time na tinalo namin yung San Beda,” he shared.
“So, I’m just so thankful lang and siyempre do’n sa mga sumusuporta sa’min para maniwala ulit sila, medyo matagal-tagal na ring medyo walang naniniwala. Sana bumalik yung tiwala nila sa amin na kaya naming manalo.”
Still, Epondulan reminded his young JRU crew to remain grounded, especially going up against another contender in St. Benilde.
“Pray,” Epondulan laughed.
“We just take it one game at a time, stay humble and trabaho pa rin.”
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