JRU Heavy Bombers bank on youthful squad in NCAA Season 101

It’s a bold move, but one with vision: the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers are placing their chips on youth and promise as they aim to rewrite their narrative in NCAA Season 101. 

After a disappointing 4–14 finish in Season 100 (10th place), JRU is undergoing a rebuild, one that hinges not on veterans past their primes, but on raw talent, energy, and a new coaching direction.

While most of the roster is fresh, the Bombers retain some anchors: Shawn Argente, Vince Sarmiento, Justin Lozano, and returning floor general Nani Epondulan, himself now installed as head coach. 

Epondulan is no stranger to JRU lore: a former MVP in NCAA history, he returns with the ambition of ending the program’s Final Four drought and reviving its identity. 

Joining them are new faces such as Sanlea Peñaverde, a standout from the San Sebastian Staglets who made waves in the juniors division, and Sean Salvador, a seasoned transfer from Mapúa. 

Also in the mix is Paul Enal, fresh off a Defensive Player of the Year distinction in the JRU juniors league. Rounding out their young core are John Canoza, Franzen Casinillo, Benedict Catapang, Gyllie Esguerra, Jay Garupil, Harry Herrera, Ivan Panapanaan, and Rasa Soleimani.

The gamble is clear: let these young pieces grow under pressure, accelerate their development, and perhaps surprise a field that may be overlooking JRU’s potential. 

If the chemistry clicks, the Heavy Bombers could awaken as one of the season’s dark horses.

In the new Group B configuration, JRU finds itself matched against powerhouses like San Beda, Letran, Benilde, and up-and-comers like Emilio Aguinald College. 

With only three teams per group advancing to the crossover quarterfinals, JRU must treat every game like a playoff. 

The strategy is simple in goal, but complex in execution: lean fully into youth, empower rising talents like Peñaverde, Salvador, and Enal to carry weight, and let veterans like Argente, Sarmiento, and Lozano act as stabilizers and mentors. 

To compete, JRU must be scrappy on defense, fast-transition oriented, and always ready to push pace. However, they will battle intense challenges, forming chemistry under a new coaching regime, overcoming steep experience deficits, and staying competitive against deeper, more established squads. 

If they can remain resilient, embrace growth, and win winnable games, JRU might just emerge as a sleeper threat in Season 101.