Season 91 finish: Fourth place
Elimination round record: 12-6
Point differential: -5.1
Pomp and Circumstance: Dave Sanchez, Darius Estrella, Marco Balagtas
Fr. Martin’s Cup record: Finalist
Recruits and Returnees: Keanu Caballero, Andrei Dada, Paulo Evardo, Jonathan Mendoza, Juan Salaveria, Julius Tiburcio
| Name |
| AbdulWahab, AbdulRazak |
| Poutouochi, Abdel |
| Astilla, Kristian James P. |
| Caballero, Keanu Abraham R. |
| Cruz, Mark Neil A. |
| Dada, Andrei Simoun M. |
| Dela Paz, Cris Jordan C. |
| Dela Virgen, Mark Justine O. |
| Evardo, Paulo D. |
| Grospe, John Ervin P. |
| Lasquety, Gio Nicolo E. |
| Mendoza, Jonathan Jed B. |
| Pontejos, John Paolo B. |
| Salaveria, Juan Edilfierto G. |
| Teodoro, Bernabe M. |
| Aurin, Kim Cyril J, |
| Divid, Richard John M. |
| Tiburcio, Julius M. |
Assessment
“The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have a talent for luck!”
Majority of the critics of last season’s Letran Knights have repeatedly downplayed their accomplishment in saying that luck played a huge role in their run to the top of the NCAA mountain. If that was luck, how can anyone describe Jose Rizal University’s run to the Final Four?
The team was on the brink of elimination before the fabled “Kagulo sa NCAA” Friday but a string of losses by the Arellano University Chiefs and the Perpetual Altas, and a botched call when the Heavy Bombers escaped the Chiefs in the second round gave them the last F4 spot.
Luck might have played a huge role in the team’s NCAA Season 91 run but the heroics of Tey Teodoro and Paolo Pontejos saved their season. And with the two back, combining for 40.25 percent of their total production, the Rizalians have a good shot of making back-to-back semifinals appearances.
So with a roster that is as intact coming from a successful campaign, what does the team need to get them over to the next level? Abdoul Poutouochi and Abdul Razak.
Even with the two hulking big men, the Heavy Bombers were just fifth in the rebounding category in the league with the two combining for just a little over 15 rebounds per game. On the offensive end, both have been inconsistent. Poutouchi, a big man with a mid range shot, even had numerous scoreless games last season. With great shooters surrounding them, the two foreign student-athletes need to step-up their game to bring JRU to the levels of San Beda and Arellano.
(Assistant) Quotes George Ella
“Siyempre nandiyan yung San Beda. Pero Arellano rin malakas.”
Prediction
11-7 (4th)
| STARTER PACK CENTRAL | |
| Follow the High Chief’s Lead | Blazing a New Trail |
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| Sword without a Shield | Another New Era Begins |
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| Bombs Away! | Waiting for the Baby Beast |
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| All is Well | REDemption |
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| Macaraya Magic | Under the Bright Light |
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