E-PAINTERS TRY TO DODGE TEXTERS’ BROOM

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COACH Yeng Guiao is steeped enough in PBA history to know his Rain or Shine squad is on an impossible mission in the remainder of its Philippine Cup title duel with Talk N Text.

That explains why a very unique niche in the record books is the last thing on his mind when asked if his Elasto Painters can pull off four straight wins over the Tropang Texters starting Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Iyun ngang unang panalo hindi namin makuha, eh, history pa?” quipped Guiao, knowing fully well no team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven duel.

“I will just try and delay their party or celebration,” he added.

That task alone is tough enough as it is.

After an 89-80 victory last Sunday TNT spent the past two days partly honing an already razor-sharp game in the eventuality of further adjustments Rain or Shine may come up with.

Texters coach Norman Black, however, concentrated mostly on bracing his charges’ mind-set in their bid to realize a third straight championship in the import-less tourney and cop the golden Jun Bernardino Trophy awarded a three-peater.

“We just have to keep focused on the task at hand,” he said after Sunday’s game. “We know it’s not going to be easy, but we don’t want to give Rain or Shine any breathing room, that’s why we’re really going for it on Wednesday.”

Even the prospect of the series being stretched is not going to sting that much for Black, a 10-time champion tactician who despises defeats.

“I’m always disappointed when I lose, but it won’t be the end of the world. We’d still get another chance,” he stated.

“But our focus must be to get it done on Wednesday. My job right now is to convince my players to stay focused, stay energized and try to come out and take the victory on Wednesday.”

For Guiao, the key for his team is to find the shooting touch that has so far eluded it in its second straight finals stint.

Rain or Shine has made only 83 of a total 235 field goal attempts, or 35 percent, way below the 40.51 percent it clipped from the eliminations up to the semifinals.

Talk N Text, meanwhile, is living up to being the top offensive team by making 92 of 228 field tries, but that doesn’t concern Guiao. “I dont think we will change too many things in terms of our gampeplan. We’re just not really making our shots,” he said.

Should only a fourth 4-0 sweep be achieved in a PBA championship series the Papa John’s Pizza-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP award will also be handed out with TNT teammates Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro as prime candidates.

For good reason. De Ocampo has averaged 17.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the first three games with Castro as impressive with 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 feeds.

The two are also contenders for the Best Player of the Conference award, which will be announced before the game. (NC)

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