Vanguardia not signed to new JRU contract

Vanguardia not signed to new JRU contract

by rick olivares

Ariel Vanguardia, who coached the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the last four years in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, was not re-signed to a new contract by school officials. The Heavy Bombers under Vanguardia’s watch made the Final Four three times with one Finals appearance where they lost to San Beda in Season 84.

Vanguardia, who once played for De La Salle’s Team B, compiled a combined 38-28 record in his four years at JRU; his first head coaching job. He took over the post from Cris Calilan who was a player on the school’s last NCAA Champion team of 1972 alongside Philip Cezar. Vanguardia immediately transformed the team into a defensive-oriented squad that played a bruising brand of basketball.

They first unveiled their style in the 2006 Champions League where as a wild card entry, they ousted then-UAAP Champion University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on their home court in España and Mapua before falling to San Beda. In the semi-finals.

BUSINESSMIRROR’s source said that former Heavy Bomber Vergel Meneses could be the next head coach with Arlene Rodriguez as team consultant. Text messages to JRU’s Policy Board representative Paul Supan went unanswered.

The Heavy Bombers were seeded to take the crown from San Beda but an early injury to its African player, Joe Etame, hurt their depth chart as center James Sena played below form all season long. The San Sebastian Golden Stags who eventually swept San Beda 2-0 in the NCAA Finals beat JRU in a two-game Final Four series.