ALTHOUGH the 96th NCAA basketball tournament has been ruled out due to the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, Jose Rizal University coach Louie Gonzalez said his charges are taking good care of the things they have in their hands.
“We are just focusing on our objectives and the things we can control which is to be ready anytime na magkaroon ng clearance and just follow the lead of our athletics director Sir Paul Supan,” Gonzalez told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday.
“Basta positive lang kami at hindi kami nagpapabaya and tuloy lang kami paano palakasin iyong team namin even on a remote set-up,” he added.
The country’s oldest collegiate league is plodding on with its new season only with online and hybrid events such as online chess and online taekwondo due to the health risks and uncertainties brought about by an unseen but vicious enemy.
Even the hybrid events such as the skills challenge and dunk tilt are unlikely to happen.
Set to be hosted by Letran, the 96th season was supposed to be launched last May but has been reset to get going virtually on June 13.
Gonzalez said the Heavy Bombers are doing just fine with their goals.
“Bombers on target,” he said. “That’s the team mantra now.”
JRU finished with a 5-13 card in the last NCAA cage wars.
Wingman Agem Miranda, forwards Marwin Dionisio and John Amores, and guard Ry Dela Rosa are expected to lead the Bombers’ charge along with forward EJ Agbong and playmaker Jason Celis, both of them former Knights, and another new addition in forward Paolo Quiminales from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology.
The Shaw Boulevard-based crew last advanced to the Final Four in 2017 under former tactician and pro league great Vergel Meneses.
JRU has not won a title since 1972 behind PBA legend Philip Cezar.
