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Emon Lodge caging: Final Four cast complete
Pacific Islands Club, MJD Corporation, Islander Rent-A-Car, and Pacific Engineering Groups & Services advanced to the semifinals of the 2018 Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood/IT&E Basketball League.
PIC (8-1) finished on top of the team standings and will square off against No. 4 Islander (6-3) in a make-or-break game this Saturday at 10am at the Koblerville Gymnasium.
“The key to our success this season is teamwork and trusting each individual on the team,” PIC’s Paulo Rafols said. “We are working hard to cover some gaps [in our game], and I’m confident that me and my teammates will make it all the way.”
No. 2 MJD (7-2) will battle PEGS in the other do-or-die tiff at 12pm. PEGS matched the Islander’s record, but dropped to No. 4 after losing the tiebreak (points). MJD is favored in the semis game and one of its key players, Jack Aranda, hopes the team makes it all the way to the finale.
“What helps my team is communication and dedication from each player showing up to each and every match and executing the game plan,” Aranda said.
“Some days may be rough, but working together helps us get the job done on both offense and defense,” he added.
The winners in this Saturday’s semis games will be back at the Koblerville Gymnasium the next day for the championship bout at 1pm and to complete the season, which was long delayed because of Super Typhoon Yutu.
Both Rafols and Aranda expressed gratitude to the league organizers for deciding to continue the league despite the devastation that Yutu left on the islands.
“It feels great to know that the league pulled through,” Rafols said.
“I’m more than happy with what the league has done for the community. It has brought some light to our lives,” Aranda said. “Continuing the league is just right for all the participants.”
