BOOSTING HOPES
AS IT has done so well in the immediate past Petron Blaze got to finish what it started.
As a result, the Boosters rediscovered the confidence they need to fan their hopes against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Monday when they resume their PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup semifinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Petron is looking to equalize the best-of-seven series at two games apiece while Rain or Shine is aiming for another win that would immensely boost their hopes of making a return trip to the finals.
For the Boosters, key is how to build on their 106-73 trumping of the E-Painters in Game 3 last Saturday, when things finally fell into place for them.
“We played well in the second game but we didn’t finish it off,” related Petron coach Gee Abanilla after the wire-to-wire win that was eerily reminiscent of what his team pulled off for most parts of the eliminations.
“This win is a big lift for us,” added Abanilla. “Coming into Game 4 we’ll have more confidence.”
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao believes the worst is over for his team. “It’s still OK. We’re still ahead in the series. We’re looking at things positively,” he said after Game 3.
Guiao added it’s simply a matter of his E-Painters again doing the things they did so well in taking the first two games of the series.
“We couldn’t make shots today. We were not active and aggressive as we were in our first two games. We didn’t have the energy that won us the first two games,” pointed out Guiao.
More than those, it’s all about Rain or Shine taking better care of the basketball.
“We played our worst game turnover-wise. I think 24 turnovers, that doubled our average of turnovers and that’s where they got their points. They got 33 turnover points, exactly their lead in the game. We beat ourselves in terms of turnovers that we gave up,” said Guiao.
The loss also put a very sad ending to the Elasto Painters’ 10-game winning streak, the longest for the franchise and conference.
“We had a good run with the win-streak,” said Guiao. “The only disappointment is we didn’t want to end it with a 33-point loss.”
How to follow up that breakthrough win is something that is crystal-clear for Abanilla and his charges.
“We really have to be mentally and physically prepared against this team, and at the same time, we’ve got to be mentally and physically tough also,” said Abanilla.
He might was well be speaking for Rain or Shine. (NC)
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