E-PAINTERS MIX IT UP WITH ACES
Rain or Shine braces for its two-game grind in Dubai next week as it tangles with Alaska in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City Friday.
The Elasto Painters and the Aces mix it up at 7 p.m. in a duel of runners-up in the season’s first two conferences.
Second placers to the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the Commissioner’s Cup just two weeks ago, the E-Painters are still trying to rebuild momentum while the Aces, the Philippine Cup first runners-up, are already on a roll, winning their first two games over the Blackwater Elite and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
Rain or Shine dropped its opening game in the season-ending tourney versus San Miguel Beer, 91-104, Tuesday.
Even then, Alaska coach Alex Compton is very much wary of Rain or Shine.
“Rain or Shine has been consistently one of the best teams in the PBA over the past few years,” said Compton. “They play hard and they play with their depth and their rotation of players. They’re a threat every conference.
An advantage on the part of the Aces is their familiarity with Rain or Shine import Wendell McKines, Alaska’s reinforcement in the same tourney two years ago.
Alaska is matching up with Romeo Travis, not flamboyant but pretty solid.
“I’m just gonna try to help my team win the best I can. That’s all I’m trying to do here. I’m an all-around team player. If somebody’s open, I’m gonna make the extra pass, I wanna play defense, I wanna rebound. I just wanna help this team win,” said Travis.
The Aces hope to catch up with the GlobalPort Batang Pier at 3-0 while the E-Painters look to get on the winning track before their two-game Dubai swing.
ROS and GlobalPort slug it out on the 21st. The E-Painters and the Gin Kings mix it up the following day. (SB)
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