THREAT OF SHAKE UP WAKES UP RAIN OR SHINE
Yeng Guiao screaming at the sideline, cracking his whip, would have made a difference.
Rain or Shine never came close to matching its 51-point winning margin over Alaska in the Governors Cup last season but nevertheless gave it a shot Friday, drubbing Barako Bull, 99-71, and moving to solo fifth place in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters, who improved to a 3-2 slate, briefly separated from a tie with Talk ‘N Text behind the pace-setters but could find themselves back in the company of the Tropang Texters before the day is over. TNT was playing Kia Motors at presstime.
Alaska, ironically, is towing the 12-team field with an immaculate 4-0 card, having bested San Miguel Beer in a duel of unbeaten leaders on Wednesday. Tied at second to fourth with 3-1 slates are the Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Meralco Bolts.
ROS assistant coach Caloy Garcia took over from Guiao who is in Hong Kong on an official business connected with his congressional function at the House of Representatives, and the Letran Knights mentor looked ready to whip up a frenzy in pursuit of the huge margin. But the self-motivated E-Painters did such a forceful job dominating Barako Bull from the start that Garcia was left with little incentive to drive the team further.
As it turned out, the E-Painters have had all the motivation they needed.
Five ROS players were in double figures, with Jeff Chan scoring 23 points with four 3-pointers, TY Tang adding 12 and Jervy Cruz 11 points with 10 rebounds, along with Chan who recorded his first-ever career double-double and his most rebounds in a game.
“We have a totally different look today. Perhaps it’s the result of our team meeting with coach Yeng last Tuesday,” said Garcia, who bared that the possibility of trades were broached during the heart-to-heart talk with the players after management grew exasperated by the E-Painters’ slow start.
“Coach Yeng told them that if they can’t perform, then the team will have to make a move,” Garcia said. “I guess that opened their eyes during practice. Alam nila na di sila puwedeng maging kampante.”
The E-Painters, who were in two final appearances last year but finished runner-up both times, apparently got the message.
They opened with a 13-2 lead, hiked it to 55-28 at the half and were up, 99-67, just before the final buzzer.
Though capable of springing an upset with its mix of youth and experience, Barako Bull never got the chance to build any momentum, missing 51 of 78 shots, getting outrebounded, 56-47, and pummelled by Rain or Shine’s bench, 55 points to 36.
JC Intal and William Wilson each had 12 points for the Energy, but the team combined to clang 20 of its 25 three-point attempts and got buried by the E-Painters’ relentless offense.
“That’s the character missing from last year,” said Garcia. “Siguro medyo natakot yung mga players nang sinabi na ite-trade sila.”
Rain or Shine came to the game after absorbing a 99-76 defeat at the hands of the Tropang Texters on Sunday, a setback that precipitated that no-holds-barred team meeting two days later.
Barako Bull, meanwhile, fell to 0-4 in a tie at the cellar with the Blackwater Elite. (WJRHT)
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 99 – Chan 23, Tang 12, Cruz Jervy 11, Teng 10, Quinahan 10, Uyloan 9, Cruz Jericho 8, Lee 7, Norwood 4, Almazan 3, Belga 2, Ibanes 0, Tiu 0, Arana 0.
BARAKO 71 – Intal 12, Wilson 12, Pennisi 11, Miranda 10, Garcia 8, Lastimosa 6, Fortuna 5, Salvador 2, Salva 2, Pascual 2, Marcelo 1, Paredes 0, Lanete 0.
Quarterscores: 25-7, 55-28, 72-48, 99-71.
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