E-PAINTERS PROMISE NO LET UP VS. BOLTS
RAIN or Shine has been given a trouble-free passage to a lofty spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. It is not about to dole out the same to Meralco.
In fact, Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao practically said the Bolts must earn their own top six slot when the teams collide anew Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A Talk N Text-Petron Blaze rematch in the nightcap actually closes out the 14-game eliminations, but the two teams are sure to finish in the middle of the pack and are safely up for best-of-three duels–possibly against each other–in the ensuing round.
Due to Petron’s 91-95 loss to Air21 last Saturday, the Boosters were taken out of the race for the spot just behind elims topnotcher Alaska and Rain or Shine became No. 2.
It is unclear yet where Meralco will wind up in the quarterfinals, but it knows exactly what it must do to avoid a daunting handicap.
A win will push the Bolts to either No. 5 or No. 6 and a race-to-two matchup against defending champion San Mig Coffee. But a loss will relegate them to seventh, with its accompanying twice-to-win disadvantage against the E-Painters.
Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio knows nothing is going to come easy against the same Rain or Shine team that beat his crew via a 91-82 count the first time they met Feb. 16.
“We want to give ourselves the best possible opportunity to make the Final Four. Probability-wise, a slot in the best-of-three quarterfinals is only achievable if we win against Rain or Shine,” noted Gregorio.
“We expect a tough matchup versus Rain or Shine,” he added. “They pose a big matchup problem for us because of their size. We have to outwork them, especially on the defensive end. They are the best offensive team in the league.”
Rain or Shine comes into the game a winner in three of its last four games and Guiao said his team’s desire has not waned.
“We will do our usual preparation for this game. We want to keep our momentum and enter the quarters on a winning note,” said Guiao on the eve of the match.
Should they lose, the E-Painters would be facing Barangay Ginebra San Miguel instead in the quarterfinals since the Kings would wind up with an inferior quotient if they get tied at 7-7 by the Bolts and either Petron or TNT.
Guiao said he’ll cross that bridge if his team comes to it. “It’s not important who we face in the quarters,” he stated.
“We just want to be sharp and healthy in the playoffs. Overall it’s been a good elimination round for us and the best way to end it is on a positive note.” (NC)
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