Bombers, Cards clash in NCAA on Tour today

Games today 2 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua (jrs) 4 p.m. – JRU vs Mapua (srs)

Jose Rizal U hopes to cash in on the proverbial home-court edge as it hosts Mapua in the NCAA on Tour today at the JRU gym in Mandaluyong.

But the Bombers are expecting a tougher challenge from the Cardinals, who are out to improve on their last-place finish last season. They tangle at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. clash between their respective juniors squads.

The rebuilding Cardinals have high hopes for a big rebound this year after tapping new rookies in Warren Bonifacio and Jasper Selanga from their high school program and transferee Noah Lugo from Lyceum Phl U.

Bonifacio, Selanga and Lugo will join a team bannered by Christian Bunag, who had a breakout season in the first year after former two-time league MVP Allwell Oraeme left, Exequiel Biteng, Laurenze Victoria and Justine Serrano.

“We have nowhere to go but up, I’m confident we will improve from last year,” said Mapua coach Atoy Co, whose squad finished with a league-worst 3-15 (win-loss) record.

While Mapua improved, the same cannot be said of JRU, last year’s third placer which lost practically its core including Teytey Teodoro, AndulRazak AbdulWahab, Abdel Poutuouchi, Gio Lasquety and John Grospe.

“We’re a new team this year because we lost almost everyone,” said JRU mentor Vergel Meneses.

Jed Mendoza was the lone starter remaining from last year and should carry most of the scoring load this season along with two other mainstays in Mark dela Virgen and Aaron Bordon.