E-PAINTERS’ LOCALS KEY, NOT JACKSON, SAYS GUIAO
RAIN or Shine import Rick Jackson is under the microscope, one with coach Yeng Guiao at the other end.
Still, the grizzled tactician is not going to put all the load on Jackson when his Elasto Painters take on NLEX Tuesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Road Warriors are making their conference debut while Guiao’s charges are bristling to bounce back strong from an 86-89 loss to Talk N Text last Wednesday.
“Tomorrow’s game will be a big test for us. Rain or Shine is a very strong team,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.
“I’m sure they will come out really strong against us because they lost their first game.”
Guiao believes his team should have the advantage because of the headstart they’ve had with Jackson. “It’s their first game this conference and this should give us some advantage since we had broken in our import ahead of them,” he said.
Guiao could be wrong.
Thornton, a former NBA first round draft pick who has had stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors, has played with NLEX in its stint in a Dubai invitational tourney from Jan. 14-25 and showed he could be a threat from both inside and out.
With the 6-foot-8, 235-lb forward, the Road Warriors now have a legitimate frontline threat aside from starting center Asi Taulava.
That is where the 6-9, 240-lb Jackson comes in, according to Guiao. “Asi will also have his matchup against Rick Jackson, which solves our perennial matchup problem against him,” he said.
Yet there remains one nagging concern for Guiao. “The question that needs to be answered tomorrow is, can we match our locals against their import?” he posed.
Jackson debuted with 30 points and 10 rebounds against TNT and although original choice Wayne Chism has gotten freed up from his commitments in Israel, Guiao said there is no need yet for a switch.
But Jackson must continue to come up big every game. “He erased a lot of doubts, but it’s not just one game. He has to prove himself every night,” said Guiao.
The E-Painters’ locals must also show up. Against TNT, only Jonathan Uyloan and Paul Lee were able to finish in double figures with the likes of Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan visibly struggling. (NC)
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