Nani Epondulan may be new to the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball coaches’ circle, but he knows one win proves little.
But opening the season on a high note never hurts, as Jose Rizal University scored a 73-69 victory over Letran at San Juan Arena on Friday.
NCAA SCHEDULE: Season 101 men’s basketball tournament
‘This is just our first game so there are barely any scouting reports,’ said the newly minted coach.
Epondulan marked his rite of passage with a win at the expense of one of the league’s traditional juggernauts, giving JRU an early boost after finishing with a league-worst 4-14 record last season.
It also helped JRU’s cause that main gunner Justin Lozano caught fire to keep the Knights at bay.
‘I knew his capabilities from day one,’ Epondulan said of Lozano. ‘I saw that he’ll click in my system. The good thing with him is he can shoot the long bombs which worked to our advantage.’
Lozano finished with a game-high 17 points built on three buckets from beyond the arc.
Backstopping Lozano on JRU’s offense was Sean Salvador, who finished with 10 points for the squad’s first win.