The JRU Heavy Bombers made sure to learn from their mistakes.
In last year's NCAA Season 98, Jose Rizal University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran figured in a tight battle in the first round where the Knights survived a scare en route to an overtime victory to kick off their three-peat bid.
The two squads squared off anew on Sunday to open the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament with the game going into OT as well.
Only this time, the Heavy Bombers emerged victorious as now-seasoned cagers Agem Miranda and Marwin Dionisio took over in an 85-79 win.
Aside from their veterans, a lot of new heroes came through for the hosts, proof that their depth could carry the Heavy Bombers, as it did against the four-peat-seeking Knights.
"Siguro na-witness lang natin ‘yung depth ng bench natin right now kasi that’s one thing na tinrabaho natin during the off-season," JRU coach Louie Gonzalez said during the post-game interview at the Mall of Asia Arena.
"We wanted to be unpredictable in terms of player usage na kahit sino pwedeng pumutok anytime."
("I guess we witnessed the depth of our bench right now because that's one thing we worked on during the off-season... We wanted to be unpredictable in terms of player usage so that anyone can heat up anytime.")
Miranda and Dionisio shone the brightest with 17 points apiece in the 85-79 triumph with the latter putting together nine rebounds and two steals off the bench.
Look | NCAA Season 99 Box Scores: JRU Heavy Bombers vs Letran Knights, September 24, 2023
First year Shawn Argente showed no rookie jitters, stepping up with 12 points, highlighted by a clutch three-pointer that gave JRU a 71-70 lead in the regulation before Letran's Deo Cuajao came up big with the equalizer that forced overtime.
Another first year in Vince Sarmiento also put up some crucial production with 10 markers, four boards, two dimes, and one block while another veteran in JL Delos Santos, who has been drafted by Converge in the PBA, churned out nine points, six rebounds, and 11 assists.
"Hirap na hirap kaming makuha ‘yung mga tamang combination ng players but again, ito ‘yung mga players ko right now e," Gonzales added.
"Lumabas ‘yung kanilang chemistry, lumabas ‘yung tiwala nila sa isa’t-isa, and siguro ‘yung maturity."
("We had a tough time finding the right combination of players but again, these are the players I have right now... They chemistry was on display, their trust in each other, too, and I guess the maturity.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
