VERGEL MENESES

Former PBA Most Valuable Player and ex-Heavy Bomber Vergel Meneses said he will transform Jose Rizal University into a “run-and-gun” basketball team while infusing in its players many of the tricks he learned from playing 14 years in the country’s professional loop.

Meneses announced his plans for the Bombers after being named its new coach yesterday hoping to be the coach JRU has been looking for to end a title drought that has now stretched to 38 years, the longest of any NCAA member school.

“I thank JRU for giving me the opportunity to be with my alma mater again. Dati hindi ko napag-champion yung team lagi lang kami fifth place. I hope this time, as a coach, mapag-champion ko na sila,” said Meneses in yesterday’s press conference at the JRU campus.

Meneses played for the Heavy Bombers from 1986-89 and then moved to the pro league with much success. Besides an MVP title in 1995, Meneses was also named one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players. He also won the MVP four times in the All-Star games.

He said he wants to transform his team into a “run and gun” squad – a playing style used by the now defunct Sunkist team under coach Derick Pumaren when he played there and where he won his MVPs.

“I hope to adopt the style of coach Pumaren, which is a running game,” said Meneses.

“Sa loob ng 14 years kong paglalaro sa PBA, tuturuan ko rin sila ng konting gulang and gagawin kong easy ang basketball para sa kanila,” Meneses said.

His assistants will include Ricky Alcantara, Vic Escudero, Jun Chiongco, and Nat Gregorio.

Meneses, 40, replaced Ariel Vanguardia, whose contract was not renewed by JRU management after he failed to bring the Bombers back to the finals this year.

The Bombers lost to eventual champion San Sebastian College in the Final Four. Last year, the Bombers under Vanguardia made it to the finals but lost to the San Beda Red Lions in their best-of-three championship series.

Although Vanguardia had better than average record in his four years as coach, the appointment of Meneses showed the urgency placed by the university to end the title drought.