Finals decided, schedule in peril
This is one helluva cup. JOSE RIZAL CUP has been splashed on by media attention, major marketing, star-studded audiences, and a powerhouse lineup of team participation like confetti in a Rio de Janeiro festival. Yet, it doesn't seem to stop giving away surprises.
The wait among the four remaining survivors is over, two were left standing amidst the chaos they made on their path. Jubas Beasts and PILIPINAS NATIONALS will be hosting history in the making. The JOSE RIZAL CUP finals.
The first ever JOSE RIZAL CUP finals, however, is being barred on a move of schedule, because of time conflicts with the upcoming Season 5, teams all over the country will once again be slated, and given another chance to vie for the coveted Philippine Cup.
PILIPINAS NATIONALS has selected as one of the teams who will be competing in the first round of the cup, their first since they started playing.
"It is our first time to play the Philippines cup and we're very excited, so as all first time participants." says Roman Helesic, NATIONALS guard. "As much as happy for being in the RIZAL cup finals."
But, due to the rules approved by the RIZAL cup board members, The Philippine cup has no right to change their schedule once announced, and the RIZAL cup may be forced to re-schedule their dates once they crossed on the National cup time frame.
"It's like the UEFA Champion's league, they take almost a month just waiting on the finals." says PILIPINAS NATIONALS rookie Leroy Casareo.
Casareo's debut was simply great, without a doubt. Scoring 23 points in 11-14 shooting, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was very respectable on the court. Backed up by Manny Florencio with 21 points, 15 rebounds, shooting 50% in the field, in 40 minutes of play.
Casareo did a good job on towering Nolie Corneja, who was really miserable on his play, coying up only 6 points (2 of 10 on the field). 2nd year sniper Herminio Cojuangco and rookie point Juppert Zamora were Polydozel's one-two that game, scoring 15 and 18 points, respectively.
The 2nd round pick Zamora was quite the interesting fellow in the game, as he managed to out-shadow the first round pick Ronnie Gotardo, who played only 13 minutes.
Again, No Polydozel starter played in the cup.
"We figured this is a good chance for the rookies to step up in a high-pressure event. We thought that it is a good gamble that we let them play in the semifinals. But now, we thought that it was simply a bad idea after all." says the Polydozel coach.
Jubas Beasts, in the meantime, had a different storyline.
It was a much anticipated match between two premier league veterans gut-busting their way into the cup finals. History seekers, as some say. Once a rival, always a rival, others believe.
But most of them agree, that this game is the part 3 playoff rivalry between these two mammoth teams.
In season 3, RED ROBINS managed to take first blood by beating the number one seeded Jubas Beasts in the Conference finals with the score of 97-103. Brian Renato and Joie Taytay being the heroes of the game, and left the no.1 Beasts tamed.
They went back with a vengeance, though, in Season 4, when in the conference semifinals, their first opponents were the mighty ROBINS. They proved that they were indeed the 'Great 8 Beasts' when they push the ball on into victory by the score of 85-107. Marksman Li Way Cheng erupted for 33 points and Damiano Gauthier managed to bring 22 points to advance onto the Conference finals. Only to be cheated away by the nemesis, Celestial Fury.
All is back to square one, and only one name may emerge on their battle, with the RIZAL CUP as their witness, Jubas Beasts advanced to the first ever RIZAL CUP finals.
Marlon Kintanar soared for 25 points, shooting five 3-pointers, pride and joy was leaving the ROBINS with a blow, but it just doesn't stop there.
Now, League II.1's surprising PILIPINAS NATIONALS and Premier League's powerh