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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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20
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
20
2024
Two and a half months after their separation, coach Yeng Guiao and his former team Rain or Shine set foot on the same floor for the first time Friday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
There will surely be exchanges of pleasantries as Guiao and the team parted ways in the offseason cordially. They then will proceed to an expected all-out battle in a duel between a mentor versus his former players.
The Guiao-mentored NLEX team and Rain or Shine are likely to figure in a fierce showdown as they press their respective bids halfway through their PBA Philippine Cup elimination-round stints.
The Road Warriors have a lot of catching up to do with their 1-4 win-loss slate while the E-Painters have to be consistent and steady if they’re to figure in the race for the Top Two.
Rain or Shine, twice a champion team and six time finalist under Guiao, is currently in a five-way tie at third place with Alaska Milk, GlobalPort, Star and TNT KaTropa at 3-2, behind San Miguel Beer (4-1)
and Blackwater (4-2).
Everybody’s targeting a Top Two finish for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Third placer to sixth placer figure in a pair of best-of-three quarters face-offs.
NLEX has dropped out of the Magic Eight with its four successive losses to Meralco (93-106), Star (75-99), Blackwater (85-96) and San Miguel (80-104).
Obviously, the Road Warriors are struggling with the new system they’re playing under their new coach.
The E-Painters, meanwhile, are playing tough and competing well with the culture and playing style developed under Guiao.
Even coach Caloy Garcia hardly deviated from the system inherited from Guiao. Guiao’s big problem is how to stop a team he molded to be a lethal unit.
To honor their former coach, Beau Belga, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Jericho Cruz and the rest of the ROS team are likely to dish out their best in this Friday tussle with Asi Taulava and his teammates.
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