Rain or Shine, TNT clash in matchup of heavyweights
One on side features the reigning Commissioner’s Cup champion; on the other side is the only team that made the Final Four of each conference last season.
Rain or Shine pursues a top two aspiration while TNT chases an outright quarterfinal berth as the two teams face off in a marquee matchup in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Before losing two of their last three games, the Tropang Texters are also in strong contention for the Top Two which reward automatic spot in the Final Four.
Still, TNT plays a key match concerning a bid for the top six or a twice-to-beat advantage in the first stage of the two-phase quarterfinals of the all-Filipino tourney.
Rain or Shine (6-1), meanwhile, must win to stay in equal footing with San Miguel Beer (7-1) and Alaska Milk (7-1) heading the last stretch of the elims.
“Every game from now on are big for all us,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.
The Texters look to bounce back from an overtime loss to the Barako Bull Energy Thursday while the E-Painters gun for a fourth straight win as they clash at 5:15 p.m.
“TNT has the most athletic bigs in the league, plus the best point guard in Asia, and also a powerhouse coaching staff, what more can you ask for?” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao.
But the fiery ROS coach believes there are things going with them.
“As a team we’re moving the ball well and running our transition game consistently,” he said.
“They miss Ranidel (de Ocampo) badly but they’ll settle down eventually. In the meantime, we try to take advantage of their adjustment period,” he added.
Guiao concedes they can’t stop Jayson Castro one on one “(and) we have to rely on team defense to contain him.”
The Elasto Painters prevailed in their most recent matchup during the Governors Cup elims.
In the last Commissioner’s Cup, the Texters won the crown in beating out the E-Painters in a classic best-of-seven finale that went the full route.
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