Rizal Golden Coolers

This article is about the men's basketball team. For the women's volleyball team previously under the same name, see Rizal St. Gerrard Charity Foundation.
Rizal Golden Coolers
2024 Rizal Golden Coolers season
LeagueMPBL
Founded2018; 7 years ago (2018)
HistoryRizal Crusaders
2018–2019
Rizal Golden Coolers
2019–present
ArenaYnares Center
One Arena
LocationRizal
Team colors     
Main sponsorPTC Foodsphere Asia Corp.
AMRC Holdings Company, Inc.
EMKAI Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading
Head coachRalph Rivera

The Rizal Golden Coolers, also known as the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers for sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Antipolo, Rizal. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Calabarzon region and play their home games at the Ynares Center.

The team began play during the 2018–19 season as the Rizal Crusaders. Team ownership said that the name was chosen as the province of Rizal is known for "crusades, mountaineering, and other stuff". Originally, the team was going to be called the Rizal Ankle Breakers, but was changed due to criticism that the name didn't have any relation to the province of Rizal.[1][2]

History

Logo of the Rizal Golden Coolers used during the 2022 season.

Rizal struggled during its first two seasons, ending up with the worst record of the division in both instances. In the 2018–19 season, the team finished 7-18, last place in the Southern Division. In the 2019–20 season, the team finished 7-22, last place in the Northern Division.

Despite struggling in the 2021 Invitational, with a record of 1-4, the team rose up in the 2022 season. The Golden Coolers finished the season 10-11, earning a playoff appearance for the first time. As the sixth seed, they upset the third-seed Sarangani in the First Round, but would go on to be swept by Batangas City in the Division Semifinals,

Home arenas

The Rizal-based team's main arena is the Ynares Center, located in Antipolo. In 2023, the team played its first game outside Anitpolo, heading to Cainta to play at One Arena.

Current roster

Rizal Golden Coolers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G/F 1 Villoria, Kraniel 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 1995–07–14 Arellano
G 3 Argente, Shawn (HG) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) José Rizal
F 4 Bernardo, Kristian 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Adamson
F 5 Alonzo, Chad (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1983–07–29 Adamson
G 6 Jimenez, Marvel 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) OLFU
F 7 Balagtas, Marco 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
G 8 Timajo, Deo 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
G 9 Davis, Kobi (HG, SGL) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) OLFU
G 14 Pingoy, Jerie (HG) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1994–12–19 Adamson
G 17 Alday, Alwin 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
G 20 Cruz, Kyle (HG) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
G/F 22 Gamalinda, Riego 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1986–05–25 San Beda
C 25 Lao, Edrian 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1988–02–25 Visayas
F 26 Serrano, Jeric 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Mapúa
G 27 Pastrana, Shaq 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) OLFU
F 37 Apacible, John 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1996–02–07 UE
G 40 Casiño, JK 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
C 41 Templonuevo, Rodman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
G 91 Dela Cruz, Charles 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) OLFU
F — Caballero, Keanu 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Centro Escolar
C — Gob, John Winfred 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) UP Diliman
Head coach
  • Ralph Rivera
Assistant coach(es)
  • Christian Coronel
  • Donn Villamin
Legend
  • (HG) Homegrown
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner
  • (SGL) Special Guest Licensee
  • (RS) Reserve player
  • Injured Injured
Updated as of: December 6, 2024

Head coaches

# Name Term Ref.
1 Braulio Lim Jr. 2018–19
2 Jayvee Gayoso 2019–20
3 Rodney Santos 2021
4 Jonathan Banal 2022–2023
5 Ralph Emerson Rivera 2024

Notable players

MPBL All-Star Day

PBA players

Season-by-season records

League champions
Division champions
Qualified for playoffs
Best regular season record
Season Regular season Playoffs
Division Finish GP W L PCT GB Stage Results
Rizal Crusaders
2018–19
Datu Cup		 South 13th 25 7 18 .280 13 Did not qualify
Rizal Golden Coolers
2019–20
Lakan Season		 North 16th 29 6 23 .207 19.5 Did not qualify
2022 South 6th 21 10 11 .476 8 Division quarterfinals
Division Semifinals		 won vs. Sarangani, 2–0
lost vs. Batangas City, 0–2
2023 North 10th 28 12 16 .429 14 Did not qualify
2024 North 8th 28 15 13 .536 11 Division quarterfinals lost vs. San Juan, 0–2
All-time regular season record 131 50 81 .382 2 playoff appearances
All-time playoff record 6 2 4 .333 0 Finals appearances
All-time overall record 137 52 85 .380 0 championships

References

  1. ^ Joble, Rey. "Rizal Ankle Breakers ready to make their mark in MPBL". FoxSports. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  2. ^ Joble, Rey (10 June 2018). "Team Rizal planning to change moniker for MPBL season". Fox Sports. Retrieved 10 June 2018.


Stub icon

This article about a basketball team in the Philippines is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.