MANILA — Jose Rizal University (JRU) stamped itself as a legitimate NCAA Season 102 title contender after sweeping San Beda University in the finals to capture the 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup championship with a 74-67 victory on Thursday at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The Heavy Bombers completed a commanding preseason campaign by winning their second tournament title in just two months, following their triumph in the 2026 U-Belt Invitational Tournament. JRU also swept all three meetings against the Red Lions in the preseason, underscoring its growing dominance heading into the NCAA campaign.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Lawrence Mangubat spearheaded the championship-clinching victory with 27 points, three rebounds, and three assists. He iced the game by knocking down two free throws with 10.5 seconds remaining.
“Ayaw ko lang matalo,” Mangubat said after the game.
Chris Hubilla, a member of the tournament’s Mythical Team, anchored JRU’s defense with eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists. He delivered the game’s biggest defensive play by rejecting Daniel Marcelo’s shot in the final minute to extinguish San Beda’s comeback hopes.
JRU also drew balanced production from its supporting cast, with Jahmir Eligado finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds, Stephen Garupil adding nine points highlighted by two crucial fourth-quarter three-pointers, and Defensive Player of the Year Allan Laurenaria contributing nine points, four rebounds, and two steals.
“From the start, yun naman ang tinatrabaho namin. Mentally naiready namin sila,” JRU head coach Nani Epondulan said.
The Heavy Bombers closed the preseason with only one defeat and completed a finals sweep after taking Game 1, 70-59, last Tuesday.
The championship likewise ended JRU’s 20-year wait for a Filoil preseason crown after finishing runner-up in the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2006.
Mangubat and Hubilla earned spots on the tournament’s Mythical Team alongside San Beda’s Aldous Torculas, Letran’s Titing Manalili, and University of the Philippines’ Veejay Pre.
For San Beda, Zed Etulle scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Torculas was limited to 13 points on just 3-of-11 shooting. Marcelo chipped in 11 points in the losing effort./PN
