One of the league's cornerstones, Jose Rizal University was once one of the kings of NCAA basketball.
With 14 men's basketball titles in the bag, the JRU Heavy Bombers, who joined the NCAA way back 1927, started its dominance winning four championships from 1963 to 1968, making its case as one of the powerhouse squads in the league.
But its most memorable run to the throne was in 1972 — which still stands as the team’s latest title.
Under then head coach Francisco "Kiko" Calilan, who was also a respectable player during his time after having represented the Philippines in various tiffs, the JRU Heavy Bombers were able to rule the tournament bannered by basketball great Philip Cezar alongside his brother David and comedian Jimmy Santos.
Cezar, of course, would become a legend in the sport, becoming a lynchpin of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers as he became 15-time PBA champion, an MVP, and honored as one of the league’s 25 Greatest Players.
After Cezar, another legendary cager would blossom under the JRU basketball program. Vergel Meneses, dubbed as the "Aerial Voyager", joined the team in 1987 though he would not be able to taste a championship in his time.
Despite no NCAA title to hang, Meneses still proved he had what it takes to be one of the country's finest, joining the PBA and even the Philippine national team, which he helped steer to gold medal in the 1991 SEA Games.
Meneses would later serve his alma mater by calling the shots for the Heavy Bombers from 2009 to 2018 before stepping down in early 2019. With him manning the sidelines, JRU was able to accumulate an 84-76 win-loss record and five playoffs berths.
Another JRU proud product was Season 85 MVP John Wilson, who helped breathe life into the program, leading the Heavy Bombers to the NCAA finals in 2008.
Drafted 7th overall by Ginebra in 2010, Wilson had played for five other teams in the PBA before making it bigger in the MPBL, where he copped a championship and season MVP plum in 2019.
Though it hasn't able to enjoy its winning ways in recent memory, JRU has earned a reputation as one of the league's institutions and a team that's always force to be reckoned with.
—JMB, GMA News
