Games on Wednesday (The Arena, San Juan City)
10 a.m. — Jose Rizal vs Mapua (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — AUF vs Letran (Jrs)
2 p.m. — Jose Rizal vs Mapua (Srs)
4 p.m. — AUF vs Letran (Srs)

Jose Rizal University hopes to get inspiration from the tragic death of their former captain when the Heavy Bombers take on Mapua Institute of Technology on Wednesday in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan City.

The league, in particular Jose Rizal, was stunned by the shocking news that JRU’s former skipper Jayson Nocom died in a motorcycle accident Monday.

Nocom was the spiritual leader of the team when Jose Rizal made it to last year’s NCAA finals during which they battled San Beda to three games before falling short in their quest to end a title drought that has lasted for nearly three decades.

Game time is at 2 p.m. with the Bombers hoping for a win to tie San Sebastian College for the lead. The Stags are on top of the standings after scoring their sixth straight win Monday via a 97-65 win over Angeles University Foundation.

Clashing at 4 p.m. are Letran and AUF with the Knights aching to get back in the winning track following a loss to San Beda College last week.

JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia hopes the untimely death of Nocom and his last wish to his team to win a championship this year, will serve as an inspiration for the Bombers.

After completing his playing years last year, he told his teammates in a gathering: “I never won a championship in the NCAA, so I hope you will be the champions next year (this year).”

“Emotionally we’re really down. But we hope to channel this into a positive outcome and let his death serve as an added motivation to do well and win the title for him,” Vanguardia.

Nocom died on impact when the motorcycle he was riding and driven by a friend, hit a tree in Lipa City.  He was 23-years old.

In honoring his memory, the Bombers will strap a masking tape on their jerseys bearing his name or his jersey – No. 10.

Meantime, the NCAA suspended five players for one game for either figuring in a bench-clearing incident or committing an unsportsmanlike behavior during the league’s last two playing dates.

Letran’s Jaypee Belencion and Kristoffer Alas were slapped one-game suspension for figuring in a near free-for-all incident during their game against San Beda which the Red Lions, 79-74.

Belencion was suspended after provoking a fight against San Beda fans, while Alas for confronting San Beda’s Sudan Daniel. Saint Benilde’s Chuck Dalanon and Jan Tan and Angeles’ Chuck Gomez also a meted one-game suspension for their unsportsmanlike behavior against Emilio Agionaldo College last Monday.

Daniel and Kevin Alas, Kristoffer’s brother, who were the center of the melee after giving each other a hard bump after a scramble for a rebound, were given stern warning alongside Letran mentor Louie Alas and his assistant and brother Mel.