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
2025 Rizal Golden Coolers season
League	MPBL
Founded	2018;7 years ago (2018)
History	Rizal Crusaders 2018–2019 Rizal Golden Coolers 2019–present
Arena	Ynares Center One Arena Ynares Center Montalban
Location	Rizal
Team colors
Main sponsor	PTC Foodsphere Asia Corp. AMRC Holdings Company, Inc. EMKAI Non-Specialized Wholesale Trading
Head coach	Ralph 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 South Division. The team plays its home games at Ynares Center.

The Rizal franchise 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]}

The Golden Coolers are one of five teams based in Calabarzon.

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

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Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From 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) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) OLFU G 14 Pingoy, Jerie 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) 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 F — Camson, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1990–06–12 Adamson — Cañete, Jhon Rodney F — Cañete, Michael 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1993–08–14 Arellano F — de Leon, Samboy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1992–03–09 Centro Escolar F — Estacio, Ahron 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) — Labayen, Edward  (HG) OLFU G — Nayve, Robi 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) St. Benilde F — Pili, Eric 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) St. Benilde — Rivera, Jetro  (HG) — Tecson, Charles  (HG) OLFU — Templonuevo, Rodman OLFU — Tiamzon, Ace  (HG) OLFU G — Tolentino, Neil 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Arellano — Yayong, Allen  (HG)

Head coach Ralph Rivera Assistant coach(es) Christian Coronel Donn Villamin Mario Gotera Legend (HG) Homegrown (FF) Filipino-foreigner (SGL) Special Guest Licensee (RS) Reserve player Injured Roster – via Genius Sports Updated as of: March 1, 2025

Head coaches

Rizal Golden Coolers head coaches
#	Name	Start	End	Achievements	Ref.
1	Braulio Lim Jr.	2018–19	2018–19	—
2	Jayvee Gayoso	2019–20	2019–20	—
3	Rodney Santos	2021	2021	—
4	Jonathan Banal	2022	2023	—
5	Ralph Emerson Rivera	2024	current	—

Notable players

MPBL All-Star Day

All-Star selections Marco Balagtas – 2019 Mark Benitez – 2020 Troy Mallillin – 2022, 2023 Jboy Gob – 2023

PBA players

Ex-PBA players Chad Alonzo Philip Butel

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
2025	South	To be determined						To be determined
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.