Published October 6, 2025 4:35pm
Updated October 6, 2025 4:35pm
NCAA Season 101 press conference. Photo: Vyn Radovan
Nani Epondulan led Jose Rizal University to the NCAA Finals in 2001, earning Season 77 Most Valuable Player honors.
Though the Heavy Bombers ultimately fell short against San Sebastian College-Recoletos that season, Epondulan left a lasting mark on the program.
Now, more than two decades later, he holds the reins of his former team, and as the new head coach of JRU, Epondulan admits there is pressure that comes with steering the squad forward.
“Well, when I took over as head coach, parang ‘yung pressure andyan na agad eh,” Epondulan said after steering JRU to a 73-69 victory against Colegio de San Juan de Letran last Friday.
(When I took over as head coach, there was pressure right away.)
“Kasi akala ng ibang tao, overnight agad ‘yan. Akala din na malakas agad ‘yung team mo, akala agad din na competitive agad. I mean, kasama talaga sa trabaho yung gano’n, kasama talaga sa trabaho yung pressure.”
(Because some people think this happens overnight. They think your team should be strong right away, competitive right away. I mean, that’s part of the job. Pressure is part of the job.)
“Pero, still, kaya trabaho naman namin, every practice. I’m just thankful lang sa trust na binigay sa akin ng school na ipinagkaloob sa akin yung trabaho na ito.”
(But still, that’s why we work every practice. I’m just thankful for the trust that the school has given me and that they gave me this job.)
Epondulan has been part of several coaching staffs at other schools, but he says his heart has always longed for his alma mater.
“‘Yung puso ko kasi nasa JRU eh,” he said.
“Nagtrabaho ako sa iba’t ibang eskwelahan, pero iba talaga ‘yung alma mater. Kaya sabi ko nga sa kanila, sa mga players ko, na mas pinili ko ito kaysa kung anong teams na kumukuha sa akin.
“Kasi mas gusto kong umuwi sa sarili kong bahay.”
(My heart has always been with JRU. I worked for other schools, but it’s different when it’s your alma mater. That’s why I told them, my players, that I chose this over the other teams trying to get me. Because I really want to go home to my own house.)
JRU will next face Emilio Aguinaldo College on Tuesday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
