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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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19
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
19
2024
PBA IMAGES
Old rivals San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine engage in another semifinal duel that is expected to become a war of attrition.
Both teams brace for a full-blown battle where the survivor faces the winner of the Alaska-Globalport faceoff in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup finale.
The Beermen, pursuing a title repeat, and the Elasto Painters, in chase of a first finals appearance in the all-Filipino tourney, break the ice in their race-to-four-games series at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Both teams put up a strong showing in the eliminations with the E-Painters barely missing an outright Final Four entry on an upset by the NLEX Road Warriors in their final game.
But ROS coach Yeng Guiao insists there’s a positive side in going through the quarterfinal phase, saying playing two extra games has made them ready to play in the semifinals.
Both teams know each other well, having figured in three semis duels in the last six conferences.
“If there’s any team out there that can really whip us, it is Rain or Shine,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.
“We have to be able to stop their transition offense. Their three-point shooting will also be a problem for us. You can’t leave even their big men open from the three-point range,” Austria pointed out.
Even then, San Miguel sets out as the outstanding choice with Junmar Fajardo, the reigning back-to-back MVP winner, and the other talented Beermen around him.
The Beermen crushed the E-Painters, three-games-to-one, in the semis of the last Governors Cup.
But Guiao believes their roster power has improved, and they have got what it takes to get back at the Beermen especially in a long series.
“Both teams will go deep into their rotation. We hope our being more used to this practice of going deep into our bench will be an advantage to us,” said Guiao.
The E-Painters intend to run the break at every opportunity to lessen their problem on Fajardo.
“Junmar is a matchup nightmare. We have to run for 48 minutes in order to swing the game pace to our advantage,” said Guiao.
The fiery ROS mentor will have an additional warm body on the return of guard Paul Lee.
“Paul is playing, but his minutes will be limited,” said Guiao.
Jeff Chan, Jericho Cruz, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan and JR Quinahan have been ROS’ lead guns in the tourney, each one averaging in double figures.
Other key players in their rotation are rookies Maverick Ahanmisi and Don Trollano, trade recruit Jewel Ponferada, Gabe Norwood, Chris Tiu and Jireh Ibanes.
Ponferada, Belga, Quinahan and Almazan are Guiao’s defensive options on Fajardo.
But the E-Painters will also have to contend with their former teammate Ryan Arana, other SMB gunners in Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Ronald Tubid and Chris Lutz, enforcer Gabby Espinas, and backcourt ace Chris Ross.
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