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.
History Prior to the Commission on Higher Education granting it university status in 2000, the school was known as José Rizal College (JRC).
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. 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.
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. Francisco Calilan coached the Bombers in these five championships, and for 31 seasons from 1958 to 1989.
Starting in 1987, Vergel Meneses led the Heavy Bombers, but would not able to lead them to the championship.
In 1999, JRC was defeated by the Letran Knights in a violence-marred title series. Two years later, now known as JRU, the Bombers lost to the San Sebastian Stags in the Finals. 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. Meneses would then coach the team from 2009 to 2018.
In Meneses' first season, they lost to the Stags in the semifinals, but had Wilson named as the MVP. Meneses further led the Bombers to semifinals finishes in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015.
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. JRU missed the playoffs in 2019. Under the bubble set-up, the Heavy Bombers won just once in the condensed 2021 season. JRU missed the playoffs again in 2022, but defeated Final Four qualifier Letran in their final game. 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, and was removed from the team by JRU.
JRU finished the next two seasons outside the playoffs, including a last place finish in 2024. Gonzalez was replaced by former JRU player Nani Epondulan starting in the 2025 season. The Bombers made it to the quarterfinals, losing out to the Perpetual Altas in Epondulan's first year.
Current roster NCAA Season 102
Head coaches c. 1948: Mateo Adao 1958–1989: Francisco Calilan 1989–1996: Egay Gomez 1996–2003: Boy de Vera 2004–2005: Cris Calilan 2006–2009: Ariel Vanguardia 2010–2018: Vergel Meneses 2019–2024: Louie Gonzalez 2025–present: Nani Epondulan
Season-by-season records SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPCTGBGPWLResults1999NCAA2nd/81495.643—312Lost Finals vs Letran2000NCAA1st/814113.786—202Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian2001NCAA1st/814113.786—523Lost Finals vs San Sebastian2002NCAA4th/81495.6432101Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian2003NCAA3rd/81486.5711101Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian2004NCAA7th/814410.2866Did not qualify2005NCAA8th/814212.14311Did not qualify2006NCAA7th/814410.2869Did not qualify2007NCAA3rd/71275.5834101Lost semifinals vs Letran2008NCAA2nd/71495.6432642Lost Finals vs San Beda2009NCAA3rd/1018153.8831211Lost semifinals vs San Sebastian2010NCAA3rd/916124.7504211Lost stepladder round 2 vs San Sebastian2011NCAA4th/101899.5007101Lost semifinals vs San Beda2012NCAA5th/1018108.5565101Lost 4th seed playoff vs Perpetual2013NCAA8th/1018612.3339Did not qualify2014NCAA3rd/1018126.6671211Lost semifinals vs Arellano2015NCAA4th/1018126.6671202Lost semifinals vs San Beda2016NCAA5th/101899.5005Did not qualify2017NCAA3rd/1018117.6117101Lost stepladder round 1 vs San Sebastian2018NCAA10th/1018315.16714Did not qualify2019NCAA8th/1018513.27813Did not qualify2020NCAASeason canceled2021NCAA10th/10918.1118Did not qualify2022NCAA9th/1018711.3897Did not qualify2023NCAA6th/1018108.5565Did not qualify2024NCAA10th/1018414.22211Did not qualify2025NCAA4th/51367.4623211Lost quarterfinals vs Perpetual
Honors
Team honors
National Collegiate Athletic Association Champions (5): 1948, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1972 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions (1): 2026
Player honors
NCAA Most Valuable Player Rhoel Deles (1): 1967 Sixto Agbay (1): 1969 Philip Cezar (1): 1972 Estelito Epondulan (1): 1990 Nani Epondulan (1): 2001 John Wilson (1): 2009 NCAA Most Improved Player: Joe Etame (1): 2010 Michael Mabulac (1): 2013 Jed Mendoza (1): 2017
References