Rizal Golden Coolers

The Rizal Golden Coolers, also known as the Rizal Golden Coolers – Xentromall for sponsorship reasons, are a professional basketball team based in the province of Rizal. The team currently competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as one of six active teams based in the Calabarzon region, splitting their home games between Ynares Center in Antipolo and One Arena in Cainta.

Rizal Golden Coolers
Rizal Golden Coolers logo
LeagueMaharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (2018–present)
Founded2018 (2018)
HistoryRizal Ankle Breakers (2018)
Rizal 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 coachJonathan Banal

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]

A volleyball team of the same name will compete in the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association (MPVA) for that league's inaugural season.

History

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,

Current roster
Rizal Golden Coolers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
0 Philippines Are, Michael San Sebastian
G 3 Philippines Charcos, Edgar Louie 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) UPHSD
F 5 Philippines Bernardo, Kristian 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Adamson
C 6 Philippines Fuentes, King Rodney 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Emilio Aguinaldo
G 7 Philippines Pido, Jeric James Mapúa
G 8 Philippines Meca, Brylle Ivan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Arellano
G/F 9 Philippines Capobres, Alvin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1994–08–19 San Sebastian
10 Philippines Abuda, Franz Jonathan San Beda
C 12 Philippines Gob II, John Winfred UP Diliman
F 14 Philippines Mallillin, Troy Ateneo
F 16 Philippines Aquino, Art Patrick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 1994–12–05 Centro Escolar
G 20 Philippines Rios, Jordan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) St. Clare
G/F 22 Philippines de Mesa, Rey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) St. Clare
G 23 Philippines De La Rosa, Ry Aijer José Rizal
27 Philippines Tibayan, Jonas Raphael National-U
29 Philippines Juanico, Jerome José Rizal
34 Philippines Salim, Med 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) National-U
44 Philippines Pasia, Jerome UPHSD
G 77 Philippines Gamboa, Mike 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1989–02–26 UP Diliman
F -- Philippines Apacible, John 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1996–02–07 UE
F -- Philippines Bañez, Shamasneh 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Letran
Head coach
  • Philippines Jonathan Banal
Assistant coach(es)
  • Philippines Don Urro
  • Philippines James Ongpin
  • Philippines Waylon Nibaten
  • Philippines Dexter Rosales
Team manager
  • Philippines Jonathan Banal
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (EP) Ex–PBA
  • (HG) Homegrown player
  • (FF) Filipino-foreigner player
  • (SGL) Special Guest License
  • Injured Injured

Head coaches
Rizal Golden Coolers head coaches
2018–present
# Name Start End Regular Season Playoffs Best Finish Achievements
GC W L Win% GC W L Win%
1 Braulio Lim Jr. 2018 2019 0 7 18 .280 0 0 0 – 25th
2 Jayvee Gayoso 2019 present 0 7 22 .241 0 0 0 –

Notable players
Rizal Golden Coolers notable players
Player Position Tenure Awards All-Star
Marco Balagtas2018–2019—1 (2019)
Mark Benitez2018–2022—1 (2020)
Jboy Gob2022–present—1 (2023)
Troy Mallillin2022–present—2 (2022, 2023)

Season-by-season records
Records from the 2023 MPBL season:
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2018–19
Datu Cup		Rizal CrusadersSouth13th/13718.280Did not qualify
2019–20
Lakan Cup		Rizal Golden CoolersNorth16th/16623.207Did not qualify
2022
Mumbaki Cup		South6th/111011.476First Round
Division Semifinals		won vs. Sarangani, 2–0
lost vs. Batangas City, 0–2
2023North10th/151216.429Did not qualify
Total elimination round3568.3401 playoff appearance
Total playoffs22.5000 Finals appearances
Total franchise3770.3460 championships

Invitational records
SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2021Rizal Golden CoolersGroup D5th/614.200Did not qualify
Total elimination round14.2000 playoff appearances
Total playoffs00–0 Finals appearances
Total franchise14.2000 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.


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