Jose Rizal U goes all out today gunning for a win that it hopes to dedicate to its fallen comrade as it clashes with Mapua today in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City. The Bombers, who could tie the San Sebastian Stags (6-0) on top if they beat the Cardinals in their 2 p.m. duel, are mourning the death of their former captain Jayson Nocom, who died in a vehicular accident Monday in Batangas. “It will be a very emotional game, I just hope we can dig deeper and play above losing our team captain and protector last year,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia, who said Nocom’s remain will be sent back home in Mindoro today.

Jose Rizal is expected to strap a masking tape on this chest bearing No. 10 or the jersey number of Nocom when he was around for three seasons averaging over six points and five rebounds and providing the leadership and protection to his teammates. Actually, Vanguardia said they would request the league to permit 6’7” Cameroonian Joe Etame to give up his No. 10 for a new number, possibly No. 20, to allow the Bombers to retire Nocom’s number. “I might not allow anyone to use that number and we will request the NCAA to allow Etame to change his number since he hasn’t really played yet and he has no records,” said Vanguardia. Etame, one of the two Cameroonians suiting up for Jose Rizal this season, has still got to play a single game after he hurt his left knee in the pre-season. He will reportedly be back possibly in the second round next month. “I can’t comment until they formally request,” said league president and San Beda rector Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB.

“Well I guess that will have to be passed by the Management Committee and the Policy Board,” Mancom chair Jose Mari Lacson of San Beda, for his part, said. The Bombers, who came a win closer from ending a 37-year title drought, are currently unbeaten in five outings and a win would push them alongside the Stags at the helm. Jose Rizal would be up against a Mapua team—a Final Four qualifier last season—that dropped four of its first five matches including a humiliating 69-80 loss at the hands of guest team Emilio Aguinaldo a week ago. In the other game, Letran seeks to improve its 3-3 (win-loss) slate and remain in No. 4 as it collides with a struggling Angeles U Foundation (1-5) at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the league cracked the whip on St. Benilde's Chuck Dalanon and Jan Tan and AUF's Chuck Gomez, who will be suspended for a game for their unsportsmanlike behavior last Monday. Dalanon and Tan were suspended for bench clearing in a loss to Emilio Aguinaldo while Gomez for a punching foul he threw in a defeat to San Sebastian the same day, according to league commissioner Aric del Rosario.
"FIBA rules doesn't automatically suspend a player for bench clearing, its the NCAA rule that says so," said del Rosario.