E-PAINTERS, BOOSTERS SETTLE SCORE IN GRUDGE SERIES
Rain or Shine barely beat Petron Blaze, 99-95, in overtime in their elimination round tiff. And with that win, the Elasto Painters finished a game ahead of the Boosters at the close of the elims.
In their most recent playoffs matchup in the last Governors’ Cup semifinals, however, Petron turned back Rain or Shine.
The Elasto Painters and the Boosters settle the score as they clash in one side of the best-of-seven semifinals series in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup beginning at 8 p.m. Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The E-Painters ride the momentum of an amazing eight-game romp dating back to the 2013 stretch of the tourney while the Boosters have their own mini-run sparked by the return to form of 6-foot-10 behemoth June Mar Fajardo.
Both are highly motivated, and both look to possess arsenal capable of doing battle all the way to the finale.
It would be remembered that Fajardo and company narrowly lost the recent Governors’ Cup title playoff to the San Mig Coffee Mixers while the Elasto Painters have always been contenders since ruling the 2012 third conference.
“We are ready and excited to start the series,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao declared.
“June Mar is about 90-95 percent and we’re glad that he’s back on time. We’ll be needing him, (Doug) Kramer and (Yousef) Taha against Rain or Shine,” said Petron coach Gee Abanilla.
Guiao and Abanilla, the former Red Bull coaching pair who have gone separate ways, both believe Fajardo would be a major factor in the series.
“We expect a long, hard fought series, and our main concern is our matchup versus Fajardo because of our lack of size,” said Guiao.
The Rain or Shine bench chieftain nonetheless is optimistic they can find a way to compete with a Petron side that also features other high dependable players in Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Doug Kramer, Ronald Tubid and Chico Lanete.
“The break gave us time to refresh and get a little rest, although I don’t think we are tired. Our confidence is high and everybody is healthy,” said Guiao.
Up against the league’s hottest team at the moment, Abanilla said they still in the process of deciphering and studying Rain or Shine.
“We have to look for their weakness if they have one,” said Abanilla. (SB)
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