RUMBLE TIME FOR E-PAINTERS, ACES
PICKING up from where they left off will be the overriding theme for both Rain or Shine and Alaska when they square off Saturday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters and Aces made astounding runs in the season-opening Philippine Cup and their respective coaches simpy hope their players display the same fire the way they did then.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao certainly does. “We want to keep on moving forward,” said the tactician, whose team made it all the way to the Philippine Cup Finals before getting swept by eventual three-peat champion Talk N Text.
“That bitter experience is best put behind us,” added Guiao. “This is another tournament, another prize to be won and we certainly have that in our sights.”
As concrete proof of their title aspirations, the E-Painters have enlisted the services of Croatian Bruno Sundov, a well-travelled NBA veteran who is the tallest among the imports at just a shade under 7-3.
Although lacking in athleticism and mobility, Sundov can make up with his height and heft inside while making the occasional perimeter shot, even a triple here and there.
Alaska, on the other hand, has a shorter reinforcement in 6-9 Robert Dozier, a collegiate teammate of Derrick Rose with an outside-inside game. It is on the other side of the court Aces coach Luigi Trillo wants Dozier to dip his fingers into, though.
“We’re looking for Robert Dozier to play better defense for us, blocking shots, rebounding, patrolling the middle,” said Trillo, whose team rebounded big-time from a ninth-place finish in the last Governors’ Cup by winding up fourth in the Philippine Cup.
“He has an offensive game already. If he can do those things on defense we will have a chance,” added Trillo.
Unlike Rain or Shine, which kept an intact roster from the Philippine Cup, Alaska dabbled a bit in the in-between-conferences trades that punctuated the break by acquiring Aldrech Ramos for Mac Baracael.
Otherwise, the Aces still have their core of Jayvee Casio, Cyrus Baguio, Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Gabby Espinas and RJ Jazul. Still, it is on how his players can achieve the desired chemistry that gnaws at Trillo.
“Still far from where we want to be,” he said. ” A lot of work for us in this conference.”
Guiao also wants his team to never stop working and would be banking most on Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Jervy Cruz, Larry Rodriguez, Beau Belga, Chris Tiu and JR Quinahan to provide support for Sundov. (NC)
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