Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers have spent the offseason drawing attention for the arrivals of Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat.
On Thursday, they showed the NCAA that their championship aspirations extend well beyond those two stars.
JRU completed a sweep of the San Beda Red Lions with a 74-67 victory in Game 2 of the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup finals, capturing its first championship in the preseason tournament.
Mangubat once again led the offense with 27 points, but the Heavy Bombers' biggest statement came from everyone else.
As San Beda focused on slowing JRU's top guns, the supporting cast answered every challenge in the second half.
Jahmir Eligado finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, Allan Laurinaria added nine points, and Stephen Garupil posted nine, including two crucial 3-pointers after halftime, as the Heavy Bombers pulled away late.
Hubilla also turned in a steady all-around performance, tallying eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
JRU outscored San Beda, 23-12, in the third quarter en route to the title-clinching victory. That decisive stretch was fueled not by individual brilliance alone, but by a roster that looked increasingly comfortable sharing the spotlight.
"I give all the credit to them," JRU head coach Nani Epondulan said after the game.
"They came ready to play, especially the veterans.
"Allan Laurinaria stepped up, Ivan Panapanaan, and our other role players embraced their roles. That's why I think this team is going to be successful."
Panapanaan scored just one point but made his presence felt with seven rebounds and solid defense against San Beda's primary scorers in 20 minutes of action.
For Epondulan, the championship validated the standard the Heavy Bombers had set for themselves since he became the program's head coach.
"From the start, this was really our goal," he said.
"Of course, we're working toward this, so I expected the kids to be in these kinds of moments. I told them to expect games like this, that we'd make it to the end and play in a do-or-die situation."
The championship reinforced what many had begun to suspect throughout the preseason.
Hubilla and Mangubat give JRU one of the NCAA's most formidable duos, but the Heavy Bombers have evolved into a team that can hurt opponents in far more ways than one.
The Heavy Bombers reached the NCAA quarterfinals last season before falling to top-seeded Perpetual, but this year's squad appears significantly deeper and more versatile.
"Last year, when we didn't have the two of them, I didn't have enough pieces," Epondulan said before crediting the growth of the returning players.
"Going into their second year, I think they already understand the physicality and what it takes to compete in the NCAA.
"Now they know what was missing and what they needed to improve. Before, it was easy for opponents to scout us because I didn't have many options. Now that we have Mangubat and Hubilla, the defense focuses on them."
Epondulan knows opposing defenses will continue to key in on Hubilla and Mangubat, which is why he believes the Heavy Bombers' supporting cast could become the difference between simply contending and finally ending the program's title drought.
"These role players are playing with freedom," he said.
"They know their brothers are always ready to contribute at any moment of the game."
JRU booked its place in the finals after eliminating fellow NCAA contender Letran in the semifinals, another statement victory that underscored just how much confidence the Heavy Bombers have built throughout the preseason.
The FilOil trophy will count for little the NCAA season begins, but the confidence gained from navigating pressure-filled games could prove invaluable But for a program chasing its first NCAA championship in more than five decades.
"I told them to take it possession by possession," Epondulan said.
"Nobody is going to hand us a championship on a silver platter. We have to want it more. It's a championship game, so we have to give everything we have."