JRU Bombers to dig deep into roster

WITH two key players missing from its roster, Jose Rizal University will have to dig deep into its roster to stay in contention in the coming 87th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

The Heavy Bombers will be playing without Cameroonians John Nchotu Njei and the 6’6” Joe Etame, two of the team’s nine mainstays, who led the Mandaluyong-based cagers to the Final Four last year.

Njei packed his bags last March after he was sanctioned by the coaching staff led by head coach Vergel Meneses reportedly due to an attitude problem. Etame, apparently in sympathy to his compatriot, followed suit and bolted the Heavy Bombers’ camp as well.

Despite their departure, the Heavy Bombers,who also lost Marvin Hayes and JR Bulanguis to graduation, still managed to play above expectations in the recent 2011 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Cup, the only summer league they joined, where they finished with a decent record of four wins and four losses.

With national hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary serving as their inspiration this season, Heavy Bombers want to come out fighting game in and game out.

John Montemayor, also a 6’6” cager, will try to take over the role left by Etame, with help coming from a pair of 6’4”s in Jeckster Apinan and JR Gaco.

Peter Atencio, Manila Standard Today