Thus, Cokaliong Shipping set up a grudge rematch of sort with JV Shop n Shop, which clinched the first finals berth after completing a 3-0 sweep in the semifinal round.
Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series is set at 8:30 pm today, right after Lokal and Sentinel Security clash for the third place trophy at 7 pm. Cokaliong Shipping and JV Shop had the fifth and fourth picks, respectively, during the dispersal draft prior to the start of the season, but still made it to the finals.
Cokaliong Shipping won last year's championship anchored on a remarkable 11-0 record, but top gunner Chester Cokaliong admitted it was hard to duplicate that feat due to the departure of finals MVP Kent Ong, Kyle Kokseng, Gerry Malixi, and Edmund Gaisano in the aftermath of the drafting scheme adopted by the league.
Among the Cokaliong Shipping leftovers are Mythical Five members Chester Cokaliong (shooting guard) and Gilbert Gajudo (center), and Christopher Cokaliong, Richard Mercado, and Jershwin Po.
In contrast, JV Shop n Shop further bolstered its roster with the arrival of prolific young guns in the likes of Samsam Gullas, Dexter So, and Perry Lim.
On paper, JV Shop is younger and the stronger squad, but the veteran-laden Cokaliong Shipping is out to prove that experience is indeed mightier than youth.
"Cokaliong Shipping champion team went 11-0 last year, a league record and a feat that's hard to duplicate. Out team last season was a very strong team unlike this year where we have only five players left.
Whatever happens in the finals, this season's success is greatly attributed to our coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug," said Cokaliong.
Against Lokal, Cokaliong copped the game MVP honors after bombing in six triples of his 18 points, including three straight in a tide-turning blast in the third canto that vaulted Cokaliong Shipping to a 12-point lead, 70-58, entering the final 10-minute mark of the contest.
Lokal was good only in the first quarter when it opened a 23-19 lead, but Cokaliong Shipping fought back in the second frame to grab the driver's seat at halftime, 41-37, and went on to dominate the match the rest of the way.
Gajudo had 20 points on top of 14 rebounds, while Marlon Gaw came out of his shell and fired a season-high 20 points on top of six rebounds, two assists, and two steals for Cokaliong Shipping, which formally knocked out Lokal using a 34-22 burst in the windup behind the efforts of Gajudo, Gaw, Mercado, and Charlie Tolentino.
Mercado finished one assist shy from recording this season's first triple-double finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, while Po scored only two points, but added eight assists, three steals, and three rebounds.
Cokaliong Shipping had an awful 0-3 start this season, but patiently overcame the odds to smoke it way to the finals in sterling fashion. The scores Cokaliong Shipping (104) - Gajudo 20, Gaw 20, Chester Cokaliong 18, Mercado 17, Christopher Cokaliong 7, Boholst 6, Tolentino 5, Chase Cokaliong 5, Aleta 4, Po 2 Lokal (80) - Gillamac 21, Kokseng 17, Yeo 15, Lopez 13, Chan Lim 7, Fortich 4, De los Santos 3