MAKE-OR-BREAK
RAIN or Shine is on a roll and intends on doing so.
Petron Blaze is equally determined to avoid falling into a very deep hole that only a select few have dug themselves out of.
Such are the overriding themes when the Elasto Painters and Boosters clash anew Saturday in their PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup semifinals matchup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Rain or Shine notched a come-from-behind 103-94 victory last Wednesday for its 10th straight win and, more important, take an imposing 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven showdown.
Another victory Saturday and the E-Painters would be just a triumph away from making a comeback to the finals and embark on a new target of atonement for being swept by Talk N Text last year.
But first things first, as Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao keeps stressing to his charges.
“It could be the biggest game for us if we win. A 3-0 lead can be a back-breaker,” noted Guiao on the eve of the match.
Not if Petron could help it, knowing as it does that no team in the league’s 38-year history has ever come back from such a deficit.
The biggest question for the Boosters, however, is how to continue offsetting the E-Painters’ game predicated on an up-tempo attack that Guiao promised will continue to be there.
“We are not changing anything in our gameplan,” stated Guiao.
Petron has had partial success in Game 2 after admittedly getting caught flat-footed in a 95-103 loss in the series opener.
The Boosters committed just 15 turnovers, 10 less than in Game 1, whittled the E-Painters’ fastbreak points to just 15 and generally shot better from the floor to lead by as many as 16 points early.
When it came to winning time, however, the balance in Rain or Shine showed as six of its players scored and only three for Petron, enabling the former to fight back from an 11-point deficit and outscore the Boosters, 36-16.
The final frame saw the E-Painters dish off more assists, 8-2, more turnover points, 8-2, more fastbreak points, 9-0, less turnovers, 1-4, and more triples made, 4-1.
For Guiao, the key is keeping one’s composure, especially in what could be a make-or-break game.
“Game 3 is going to be a lot more physical. I think we’re handling the physical game better the last two games,” said the grizzled tactician. (NC)
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