Rain or Shine stakes 3-game streak vs TNT sans Guiao
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Rain or Shine will have to make do minus its head coach Yeng Guiao as the Elasto Painters try to stick close with the tournament front runners in going up against the Tropang TNT in a rare Monday bill in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Assistant coach Caloy Garcia calls the shots for the Painters in their 7 p.m.tussle with the Texters as Guiao serves a one-game suspension incurred for his rant against the referees and technical officials in their last game against the Mahindra Enforcers.
With or without him, Guiao said the E-Painters, winners of three straight, have to improve their game if they’re to beat the Texters.
With Mo Charlo playing a passive game and the whole team seemed to just going through the motion, Rain or Shine needed crucial baskets by Jeff Chan in the crunch to get past Mahindra, 103-98.
And Guiao insists they have to step up to stand a chance against a TNT squad which has improved as of late, getting away with decisive wins over Phoenix (108-96) and NLEX (85-80).
The E-Painters are at 4-3 while the Texters are at 3-4, aching to squeeze themselves into the Top Eight nearing the homestretch of the elims.
TNT currently shares seventh to ninth places with Mahindra and NLEX.
Uncertain is the readiness of Jayson Castro to return from an Achilles injury.
For Rain or Shine, the question is whether Charlo has got his legs back.
He obviously struggled with the ill effects of jet lag in his second game in the local pro league versus the Enforcers.
Charlo, who exploded for 35 points in his PBA debut, delivered only 16 markers in their last game.
“May epekto yung jet lag,” said Guiao.
But for whatever it was, Guiao was dissatisfied with Charlo’s game the last time out.
“I think he just over passed. He’s not looking to score too much. We need to talk to him and give him a better perspective of what he needs to do. He wanted to help us out by trying to get everybody involved. But an import needs to score,” said Guiao.
“Mo is an all-defensive team awardee in the NBA D-League. I don’t know if he’s trying to adjust on the refs calls because he wasn’t getting too physical on Augustus Gilchrist. I guess natatakot siya matawagan ng foul,” Guiao also said.
Charlo could be up for a tough grind versus David Simon.
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