JEFF Viernes seeks to complete unfinished business for Che’lu Bar and Grill when they begin their best-of-5 Finals series with Go For Gold in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.
After leading the Revellers get to the last Aspirants’ Cup Finals, Viernes's stint was cut short after being acquired by Globalport early in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, watching helplessly the Revellers in their best-of-three title series with Zark’s Burger squandering their Game 1 lead.
Fast forward to the present day, Viernes unleashed 26 points to carry Che’lu back in the finals dismantling CEU, 86-73, in their no-tomorrow semifinals Game 3 duel on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
With one series away from his unfinished business, Viernes vowed to deliver thefirst franchise title of the Revellers.
“Wala na. Kahit meron pa (magoffer) talagang nakafocus na tayo dito sa Che'lu Bar and Grill,” said Viernes, who hit four three pointers and had six rebounds, as many as assists, and three steals in their pivotal win."
“‘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.
Viernes, who averaged a league-best 17.3 points, along with 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2 steals, has a chance of winning the Most Valuable Player plum but all he wants to win is the championship trophy.
“Hindi ko na iniisip ‘yung mga awards awards na ‘yon. Basta number one na usapan namin nag-promise ako sa owners and of course kay coach Steve (Tiu), pipilitin ko hanggang abot ng aking makakaya na matulungan ang Che'Lu Bar and Grill na makuha tong first championship nila sa D-League,” the high-scoring playmaker said.
As their best-of-five title series with Go for Gold begins on Thursday, Viernes believes that they will have a tight match-up saying that team who wants it more will it all.
“Hindii ko na sinasabing kami llamado o dehado. Pero nandito na kami, which is best-of-five, so one game at a time lang kami,” he said. “Of course, ‘yung respeto natin sa Go for Gold, ‘yung lineup nila is very solid din. Ang dami rin nilang beterano.”
“Makikita na lang natin kung sino yung mas prepared. Siguro ‘yun lang sigurong mananalo at magchachampion,” he concluded.
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