Beermen, E-painters shoot for crucial 2-1 lead
Both San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine have taken turns showing their irrepressible spirit.
Whose tenacity comes out on top this time around would be known when the Beermen and Elasto Painters square off anew for what should be a critical game Monday in their PBA Governors Cup semifinals duel at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match winner moves within just another victory of wrapping up the best-of-five series and advancing to the finals and Rain or Shine seemed to have gained momentum with a dramatic 113-110 victory last Saturday.
READ: Rain or Shine ties series at 1-1 after ‘God-given’ win
The E-Painters, who lost two 24-point leads in a 95-101 loss in the series opener, turned the tables on the Beermen by charging back from a 20-point third quarter deficit and prompting Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao to offer that Divine Providence was involved. “Only God can script a game like this,” he said.
“We worked so hard, we played our hearts out, but only God can write a story this way,” added Guiao. “Ibinigay ito ng Diyos sa amin. Ang ginawa namin nagtrabaho lang kami, nagdasal. We thought it’s going to be a lost game. (But) the players hung in there and played with a lot of character. A team made of lesser stuff would have broken down with the kind of torrid shooting San Miguel showed. I’m proud of the guys.”
Jeff Chan’s triple in the last eight seconds ultimately won it for the E-Painters, which is ironic since prior to that it was the Beermen who were shooting the lights out and ultimately wound up with a season-high 21 triples out of 36 tries.
Marcio Lassiter accounted for 10 of those triples en route to a career-high 31 points and Arizona Reid seven.
SMB coach Leo Austria said the same torrid showing in offense lulled his players into complacency on the other end of the court. “They thought tapos na ang laban, nawala ang sense of urgency,” he said.
READ: Austria looking for better game plan against McKines in game 3
“We were relying too much sa ganda ng opensa and we started playing na para bang protecting the lead na lang.”
Austria added it’s now a matter of regrouping like what the E-Painters did and letting it all hang out in Monday’s game.
“Minor adjustments na lang, basically on how to limit (Wendell) McKines and execution of plays,” bared Austria.
McKines did carry Rain or Shine on his shoulders with a career-high 53 points on top of 17 rebounds, five assists and as many blocks and his swipe off Arizona Reid led to Chan’s game-winner.
Reid finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, but muffed his last three shots and was hardly a factor on the defensive end after picking up his fifth foul off McKines with still 3:29 left.
READ: X-factor in San Miguel, Rain or Shine series
June Mar Fajardo also picked up his fifth foul with still 4:17 to go and Austria noted Rain or Shine was quick to pounce. “They went small and we could do little about it kasi June Mar at Reid parehong five fouls,” he related.
The ploy worked for the E-Painters as their fightback was spiked by four offensive rebounds, the last one by Chan that led to a game-tying elbow jumper by Gabe Norwood.
“We were one rebound away para manalo, hindi nga lang nangyari,” rued Austria. (NC)
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