-
-
-
SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
-
-
-
-
04
-
26
-
2024
-
SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
Every now and then, in the PBA or any league for that matter, a special team comes along.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters could be categorized as such as there could be no more stopping them from pulling off special feat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
On Friday at the Big Dome, the E-Painters gun for only the sixth four-game sweep in PBA finals history, hoping to apply the broom on the Alaska Milk Aces in their title showdown.
Rain or Shine has got four shots at nailing a second crown in franchise history after repulsing Alaska Milk, 105-97, in Game One, repeating with a 105-103 triumph in Game Two, then whipping the Aces, 112-108, yet again in Game Three.
“We have a 3-0 lead and we’ve had one foot inside the door. It has happened before (a team losing such a playoff lead), and it can happen again. That’s in our mind, and we don’t want to be in that (losing) position,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“We’ll do everything we can to finish Friday. I don’t want to guarantee it now. I’ll guarantee it after Friday’s game,” added Guiao with a wry smile on his face.
Mired in a record slump in PBA finals from last conference, all Alaska coach Alex Compton could promise “is to fight for pride.”
But can they figure out a way to stop the E-Painters?
With their smart guards and cold-blooded shooters, the E-Painters have been consistently tearing apart the Aces.
There seems to be no amount of the Alaska press that can rattle the E-Painters.
“We have the materials to beat their press,” noted Guiao, pointing to a battery of smart, good guards in Paul Lee, Jericho Cruz, Gabe Norwood, Maverick Ahanmisi and Chris Tiu.
The E-Painters are also beating the Aces on their halfcourt sets with all their gunners including big men Beau Belga, JR Quinahan and Jewel Ponferada.
“All through the series, we have handled their press well. We’ve been doing that. We’ve played good defense. If we can be consistent and we keep pace with them, I think we’ll be able to finish it,” Guiao said.
A win Friday will make Rain or Shine the sixth team to sweep a best-of-seven PBA finals after Northern Cement in the 1985 Reinforced Conference, Swift Mighty Meaty in the 1992 Third Conference, Purefoods in the 2010 Philippine Cup, Talk n Text in the 2013 all-Filipino and San Miguel Beer in the 2015 Governors Cup.
For Guiao, it would be a seventh championship, after earlier title runs with Swift and Red Bull.
Follow Us
Other Stories:
Recent Stories:
Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.