Focus on GlobalPort guards as Rain or Shine shoots to extend unbeaten run
Rain or Shine has to deal with Globalport’s dynamic and exciting backcourt rotation as the Elasto Painters seek to keep their unbeaten run in the 2015-16 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup.
It’s not lost on Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“Containing their guards is the key to winning against Globalport,” said Guiao on the eve of their match at 7 p.m.Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“They have the quickest set of guards in the league. They can break down defenses at will,” Guiao also said. “Our focus is just staying in front of these guys and hope that our challenge is good enough. If they will hit their three-pointers, that makes them doubly hard to beat.”
With Stanley Pringle, Terrence Romeo, Joseph Yeo, Keith Jensen and Jonathan Uyloan, Guiao said Globalport is entirely different from the team the E-Painters have beaten in all but one of their collisions in the past.
The Batang Pier were impressive in their 101-94 conquest of the Star Hotshots and in their 105-91 demolition of the Barako Bull Energy.
Their lone loss came at the hands of the reigning two-conference champs San Miguel Beermen (86-97).
The task to contain Pringle, Romeo, Yeo and Jensen – all averaging in double figures – will be on Gabe Norwood, Jericho Cruz, Chris Tiu, Jireh Ibanes and rookie Maverick Ahanmisi.
Rain or Shine has been playing a balanced game that has resulted to three straight wins over Star (96-87), Mahindra (108-94) and San Miguel (99-84).
Beau Belga is the team’s leading scorer with an average of just 12.3 points. But Jeff Chan, Raymond Almazan, JR Quinahan, Ahanmisi and Cruz also average in twin digits with Norwood, Tiu and Jewel Ponferada adding at least seven each a game.
They’re also churning out balanced numbers off the boards.
Norwood, Chan, Tiu, Belga and Cruz all connected from beyond the arc, and the Elasto Painters helped one another to neutralize Junmar Fajardo in nailing a third straight win.
“We just put up an effort to help each other out. No team can stop San Miguel defending Junmar (Fajardo) one on one,” said Guiao.
“It’s one of those days where we’re able to disrupt the rhythm of San Miguel. It’s tough to stop them. I’m not sure if our effort is going to work the next time. But at least, we’ve got past them in the first round. Tignan natin kung swe-swertehin kami na makaharap namin sila in future rounds,” Guiao also said. (SB)
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