Bombers eye better ’18 finish

Despite falling short in the stepladder semifinals, Jose Rizal U coach Vergel Meneses expressed confidence the Heavy Bombers will remain a force to reckon with in the next NCAA season.

For one, former NCAA juniors MVP Darius Estrella will be on board after missing Season 93 due to an ACL tear in his left knee while the likes of Jed Mendoza and MJ Dela Virgen and several new rookie recruits are also expected to shine in their next campaign.

But aside from firepower, defense and hustle will still be the Bombers’ mantra with Meneses, one of the PBA legends, anchoring their campaign, which made them the league’s second-best and netted them the No. 3 seeding, on full-court, choking defense.

Despite having to compete with the likes of perennial powerhouse San Beda and the current hot team Lyceum, JRU still proved it can go along and be among the league’s elite, finishing a strong third in the double-round elims but failing to shrug off a long rest and bowed to San Sebastian in the stepladder semis.

In his eight seasons with the Mandaluyong school, Meneses has steered the Bombers to five Final Four appearances. The former JRU star has a win-loss record of 83-67.

For what he has become, top gun Ervin Grospe, who has finished his collegiate stint with the Bombers, gave credit to Meneses.

“He’s strict in practice but he’s a good motivator. We learned a lot from him,” said Grospe.

Meneses, nicknamed the Aerial Voyager during his prime, had a couple of 13-win seasons, producing top players in Philip Paniamogan, Paolo Pontejos, Gio Lasquety, Jexter Apinan, Bryan Villarias and Grospe.

With Grospe and Gio Lasquety out of their next campaign, Meneses remains upbeat of his wards’ chances especially with Estrella raring to showcase the form that made him the league’s top junior player.