JRU Heavy Bombers basketball

The JRU Heavy Bombers basketball program represents José Rizal University (JRU) in men's basketball as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). The JRU Heavy Bombers are the varsity teams with the longest continuous membership in the NCAA, having been a member since 1927 without interruption, and have the longest championship drought.

JRU Heavy Bombers
2024 JRU Heavy Bombers basketball team
University	José Rizal University
Founded	1927
History	JRC Heavy Bombers (until 2000) JRU Heavy Bombers (since 2000)
Head coach	Ernani Epondulan (1st season)
Location	Mandaluyong
Nickname	Heavy Bombers
Colors	Blue and Yellow
NCAA Champion
1948, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972

History

Prior to the Commission on Higher Education granting it university status in 2000, the school was known as José Rizal College (JRC).^[1]

JRC won the 1963 and 1964 NCAA titles via the exploits of Rene Canent and Egay Gomez; the former would later be the first president of the Philippine Basketball Association Players Association.^[2] The Bombers had another back-to-back title romp in 1967 and 1968 led by 1967 Most Valuable Player Rhoel Deles, Carlos Villamayor and Sixto Agbay.^[3]

Their last title was in 1972, when they were led by Philip Cezar, his brother David, and Jimmy Santos. Its entire starting line-up was later drafted in the Philippine Basketball Association.^[3] Francisco Calilan coached the Bombers in these five championships, and for 31 seasons from 1958 to 1989.^[4]

Starting in 1987, Vergel Meneses led the Heavy Bombers, but would not able to lead them to the championship.^[5]

In 1999, JRC was defeated by the Letran Knights in a violence-marred title series.^[6] Two years later, now known as JRU, the Bombers lost to the San Sebastian Stags in the Finals.^[7] They would next make it to the Finals in 2008 led by John Wilson, but were defeated by the San Beda Red Lions. Coached by Ariel Vanguardia at this time, he coached JRU to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2007 to 2009, after which he resigned.^[8] Meneses would then coach the team from 2009 to 2018.^[5]

In Meneses' first season, they lost to the Stags in the semifinals, but had Wilson named as the MVP.^[9] Meneses further led the Bombers to semifinals finishes in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015.^[10]

After finishing last place in 2018, and in order to run as mayor of him hometown in Bulakan, Bulacan, Meneses was replaced by former De La Salle coach Louie Gonzalez.^[11] JRU missed the playoffs in 2019.^[12] Under the bubble set-up, the Heavy Bombers won just once in the condensed 2021 season.^[13] JRU missed the playoffs again in 2022, but defeated Final Four qualifier Letran in their final game.^[14] The 2022 season was marked with John Amores going on a punching spree against Benilde Blazers players. Amores was then suspended for the rest of the season by the NCAA,^[15] and was removed from the team by JRU.^[16]

Current roster

NCAA Season 100

JRU Heavy Bombers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School PG 9 Argente, Shawn 5'9" (1.75m) – – F 14 Barrera, Mart 6'3" (1.91m) – – F 21 Benitez, Lance 6'4" (1.93m) – – F 15 Bernardo, Renz 5'11" (1.8m) – – F 8 De Leon, Marj 6'4" (1.93m) – – PF 19 De Jesus, Karl Bench 6'7" (2.01m) 3rd Chiang Kai-shek College G 55 Ferrer, Cyrus 5'11" (1.8m) – – G 32 Garcia, Darrel 6'0" (1.83m) – – PF 5 Guiab, Joshua  (C) 6'6" (1.98m) 4th Calayan Educational Foundation C 94 Lozano, Justin 6'10" (2.08m) – – G 26 Medina, Jonathan 6'2" (1.88m) 3rd José Rizal University G 1 Mosqueda, Sidney 5'11" (1.8m) – – F 27 Panapanaan, Ivan 6'5" (1.96m) – – G 7 Pangilinan, Joseph 6'2" (1.88m) – – G 3 Ramos, Patrick 6'4" (1.93m) – – G 31 Raymundo, Marvin 6'3" (1.91m) – – G 17 Samontanes, Ralph 5'10" (1.78m) – – G/F 16 Sarmiento, Vince 6'6" (1.98m) – –	Head coach Louie Gonzalez Assistant coach(es) Glenn Capacio Eddie Laure Eric Dela Cuesta Nixon Ramos Vic Lazaro Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster Updated: 2024-09-03

Head coaches

• c. 1948: Mateo Adao
• 1958–1989: Francisco Calilan^[4]
• 1989–1996: Egay Gomez
• 1996–2003: Boy de Vera^[17]
• 2004–2005: Cris Calilan
• 2006–2009: Ariel Vanguardia^[8]
• 2010–2018: Vergel Meneses^[5]
• 2019–2024: Louie Gonzalez^[11]

Season-by-season records

Season	League	Elimination round						Playoffs
		Pos	GP	W	L	PCT	GB	GP	W	L	Results
1999	NCAA	2nd/8	14	9	5	.643	—	3	1	2	Lost Finals vs Letran
2000	NCAA	1st/8	14	11	3	.786	—	2	0	2	Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian
2001	NCAA	1st/8	14	11	3	.786	—	5	2	3	Lost Finals vs San Sebastian
2002	NCAA	4th/8	14	9	5	.643	2	1	0	1	Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian
2003	NCAA	3rd/8	14	8	6	.571	1	1	0	1	Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian
2004	NCAA	7th/8	14	4	10	.286	6	Did not qualify
2005	NCAA	8th/8	14	2	12	.143	11	Did not qualify
2006	NCAA	7th/8	14	4	10	.286	9	Did not qualify
2007	NCAA	3rd/7	12	7	5	.583	4	1	0	1	Lost semifinals vs Letran
2008	NCAA	2nd/7	14	9	5	.643	2	6	4	2	Lost Finals vs San Beda
2009	NCAA	3rd/10	18	15	3	.883	1	2	1	1	Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian
2010	NCAA	3rd/9	16	12	4	.750	4	2	1	1	Lost stepladder round 2 vs San Sebastian
2011	NCAA	4th/10	18	9	9	.500	7	1	0	1	Lost semifinals vs San Beda
2012	NCAA	5th/10	18	10	8	.556	5	1	0	1	Lost 4th seed playoff vs Perpetual
2013	NCAA	8th/10	18	6	12	.333	9	Did not qualify
2014	NCAA	3rd/10	18	12	6	.667	1	2	1	1	Lost semifinals vs Arellano
2015	NCAA	4th/10	18	12	6	.667	1	2	0	2	Lost semifinals vs San Beda
2016	NCAA	5th/10	18	9	9	.500	5	Did not qualify
2017	NCAA	3rd/10	18	11	7	.611	7	1	0	1	Lost stepladder round 1 vs San Sebastian
2018	NCAA	10th/10	18	3	15	.167	14	Did not qualify
2019	NCAA	8th/10	18	5	13	.278	13	Did not qualify
2020[a]	NCAA	Season canceled
2021[b]	NCAA	10th/10	9	1	8	.111	8	Did not qualify
2022	NCAA	9th/10	18	7	11	.389	7	Did not qualify
2023	NCAA	6th/10	18	10	8	.556	5	Did not qualify
2024	NCAA	10th/10	18	4	14	.222	11	Did not qualify

1. Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Season postponed to early 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.