NEWLY crowned Most Valuable Player Jeff Viernes didn’t let Che’lu Bar and Grill down as he helped the Revellers live to fight another day after turning back Go for Gold Scratchers, 88-81, in Game Four of the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Finals on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Being the first former pro to win the PBA D-League MVP plum, Viernes was grateful of the huge acknowledgement in his career but he remained focused on his mission in delivering the first franchise title for Che’lu Bar and Grill.
“Hindi ko din naisip na ako yung first. Pero siguro this is one of my greatest achievements na at least nakakuha ako ng ganitong award,” Viernes said. “Pero ‘yung mission ko is hindi naman makuha yung MVP eh, it's to help this team win their first championship here in the D-League.”
The conference scoring leader, who finished with 18 points, five assists, and three rebounds in Game Four, dedicated the top individual honor to his teammates.
“Siguro dahil tinrabaho rin namin. Dine-dedicate ko tong award na 'to hindi lang sa'kin, kundi sa buong team namin sa Che'lu,” the two-time NAASCU MVP said. “Sa teammates ko dahil kung di rin nila binigay yung suporta samin, kung hindi kami nagtulong-tulong hindi rin naman kami makakarating dito at di ko makukuha tong award na to.”
Viernes also attributed their huge Game Four win to his teammates bannered by fellow MVP candidates Jessie Collado and Chris Bitoon as well as Stephen Siruma, Jay-R Taganas, Levi Hernandez, and Jason Melano, who all stepped up when it mattered most to equalize the best-of-five series and face Go For Gold in a winner-take-all Game Five on Thursday at 5 p.m.
“‘Yung team namin nabuo ‘to hindi dahil sakin lang. Nabuo kami kung nagtulong-tulong kami kaya nandito kami hindi lang dahil sakin. Dahil kami, every game, kahit sino pwede magstep up,” the high-scoring guard said. “Ngayon ang daming tulong na nakuha, tulong-tulong kami kaya namin nakuha yung panalo ngayon. Kailangan namin masustain yun until Game Five para makuha namin yung kampeonato.”
Now that he won the MVP, Viernes still has one last task to finish and that is prove his worth as the MVP by winning the championship.
“Siyempre nung nakuha ko yung MVP, kailangan ko panindligan na ikaw ang MVP, na ikaw yung nakita dito liga na most outstanding,” Viernes said. “Ipakita mo hanggang makuha mo rin yung kampeonato. Ang laking motivation sa akin ‘yun, na hindi kami pwede matalo. As MVP, kailangan panindigan mo hanggang makuha mo ‘yung championship.”
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