The stars are aligning for Jeff Viernes.
After not being able to play in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Finals as he got called up by the GlobalPort Batang Pier, Viernes now has a chance to settle his unfinished business with the Che’lu Bar and Grill Revellers.
The 5-foot-8 point guard and the Revellers have made their way into the 2018 Foundation Cup Finals as they defeated the young yet pesky CEU Scorpions, 86-73, in the deciding Game Three of the semis, Tuesday evening.
Viernes was undoubtedly the brightest star of the night, as he powered Che’lu with a game-high 26 points — 16 in the first half alone — on top of six rebounds, six assists, and three steals in the 37 minutes and five seconds he played.
“Talagang nakafocus na tayo dito sa Che’lu Bar and Grill,” said Viernes. “Yung unfinished business nga na sinabi ko from the start pa lang nitong D-League, sabi ko ang goal ko talaga ngayon ay siyempre makabalik sa Finals.
“At, makuha namin naman ngayon yung kampeonato,” he added.
This Finals trip is what had been expected from the Revellers, unlike in the previous conference where they came into the titular battle as a surprise. In this conference, the Revellers went into the playoffs as the top-seeded team.
But even if they’re touted as the best team heading into the conference finals, a tough challenge is on the horizon.
Che’lu will be going up against the Go for Gold Scratchers, who entered the playoffs as the two-seed. The Scratchers have momentum and fresh legs on their side, as they finished Marinerong Pilipino-TIP Engineers in two games.
The cager out of St. Clare College doesn’t see any edge for Che’lu over Go for Gold in the best-of-five series that will commence this Thursday, August 9, saying that it will all boil down on which team wants it more.
“Siguro kung sino na lang yung mas gustong magchampion.
“Siguro lahat naman talaga, pero siyempre it boils down naman siyempre sa mga preparation and yung mga players kung gaano sila kadetermined na kunin yung championship,” said the 28-year old point guard.
