23/07/2026
***Filoil Preseason Dugout Musings: JRU's Psychological Edge Going Into Game 2***
The JRU Heavy Bombers showed how their team defense affected more than San Beda's percentages, it exposed how it affected their confidence as well.
As the misses piled up on each of the four quarters, the Red Lions San Beda progressively showed classic signs of offensive exasperation; the whole Bedan backcourt of RC Calimag, Dan Marcelo, Penny Estacio, Kyle Jamora and Dom Sarigumba were collectively hesitating on open looks, passing up makeable shots to combine for an atrocious 26% from the field, making just 5 out of 19 of their shots, including 2s and 3s.
Whereas less than 48 hours ago versus UP, the NCAA defending champs made more than half of their shots making 37 of 71 including 16 of 36 from 3s. With RC Calimag, Penny Estacio and Dom Sarigumba combining for a scorching 55 points output. But against Mangubat, Palis, Laurenaria, etal. Red Lion guns were jammed. And if it weren't for the Handyman can, Zed Etulle, Aldous Torculas, Stonewall Hawkins, and JC Bonzalida, making their shots, game 1 would have been a blowout. As the front court too were seen forcing isolation plays and rushing late-clock attempts sporadically, as broken plays were forced which led them to take bad shots. Credit the JRU coaching staff for doing an in-depth scouting job.
This is where coach Nani Epondulan clinched game 1. His Heavy Bombers weren't just defending possessions, they were eroding belief. By the fourth quarter, San Beda appeared to be thinking instead of reacting. See, for shooters hesitation is fatal. Which leads us to the million dollar question;
Why the shooting percentages were so poor? From a box score POV, casuals may conclude;
"Malas lang ang San Beda. " in the vernacular or "San Beda simply had an off shooting night."
Coming from that perspective totally misses the bigger picture. And good thing CYE and his competent staff are too jaded to believe that. Because they are fully aware that poor shooting percentages often originate long before the release.
The bemedalled San Beda Red Lion coaching crew knows that JRU's defense influenced every stage of the possession, from the difficult catches to the delayed offensive initiation. Disrupting their spacing altogether which limits paint pe*******on. Also those contested passing angles brought about by JRU's active hands, causing rushed decision-making. Plus the disciplined physicality leading to fatigue. These factors compounded to the Bedan woes which made them miss their shots. Notice how JRU's defensive work happening over the previous 20 seconds. San Beda needs to find solutions to these problems, fast. If not, they can only get back at the Heavy Bombers when they defend their NCAA chip some time in September. This is the part where hypothetically CNE says to CYE, "Your move, coach."
For both San Beda and JRU, this is where the Preseason championship-Level defensive DNA unravels.
What made JRU's performance Preseason championship-worthy was balance. Watch them go in between in the gaps without excessive trapping. They didn't resort to reckless gambling as they just waited on high percentage steals before going all in.
Youth coaches can learn a thing or two from CNE about his superb team defense. The Heavy Bombers' on point positioning, communication, discipline, physicality, effort, and collective trust was a master class, which is actually the foundation of elite defensive basketball. These are valuable coaching points of emphasis(cpoe) when they march on to NCAA Season 102 and if ever they also meet up under the same circumstances.
As we see it ...
Game 2 will be ultimately decided by one undeniable truth;
If JRU dictates how Game 2 would be played, it's going to be a sweep, but once San Beda establishes the pace and offensive rhythm it's known for, the Heavy Bombers will find it difficult to slow the game into a defensive battle where every basket had to be earned.
Their relentless on-ball pressure, synchronized help defense, disciplined rotations, and commitment to finishing possessions with rebounds that transformed the Red Lions into an inefficient, uncomfortable shooting team in the previous game needs to go a notch higher.
That's what champion teams do.
San Beda does that on the regular during the NCAA wars, reason why under CYE they have two titles.
In closing, calling San Beda's shooting performance "atrocious" overlooks the cause. JRU engineered those misses through a complete defensive performance that disrupted timing, denied quality looks, and steadily wore down the Red Lions' confidence. The Heavy Bombers didn't just win with defense—they imposed their identity from the opening tip until the final buzzer, proving that elite team defense can be the defining force in this preseason championship series.
Where it all begins.
