Rain or Shine shoots for QF berth vs surging Ginebra
Rain or Shine tries to formalize Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup playoff passage in taking on the tall, surging Barangay Ginebra team just 48 hours after hurdling Barako Bull and its gunners.
Coach Yeng Guiao said they’re in a tricky situation considering the Gin Kings and the Energy are totally different teams.
“We have a day to prepare for Ginebra. They’re a lot bigger than we are. The approach will be totally different,” said Guiao ahead of their crucial match with the Gin Kings Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both teams ride the momentum of stirring runs as they set out for their 5:15 p.m. tussle.
At 5-1, the Elasto Painters take a first shot at formalizing entry into post-elims play while the Gin Kings, with a 4-3 slate, aim to solidify spot in the upper half of the chart.
“Every game is difficult. We’re just trying to play as a unit,” said coach Tim Cone whose Ginebra squad has just gone above the .500 mark following successive wins over the Meralco Bolts (89-64). the Mahindra Enforcers (80-76) and the Globalport Batang Pier (85-70).
The Gin Kings were at their finest versus the Batang Pier Wednesday, finally enjoying cohesion and balance as they curiously churned out a first win in the Metropolis. They scored their first three wins on the road.
Greg Slaughter sustained his overpowering performance while Mark Caguioa and LA Tenorio broke out of personal slumps as Barangay Ginebra whipped Globalport for a third straight win.
Slaughter once again piled up huge double-double numbers with 22 points and 21 rebounds while Caguioa and Tenorio delivered 22 and 18 markers, respectively, as they held their own against highly touted Globalport guards Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
“It’s a first real good one we’ve got,” said Cone.
Ginebra’s improvement is not lost on Guiao.
His main concern is how to neutralize Slaughter and Aguilar at the paint while also taking a close look at Caguioa, Tenorio and the other Ginebra backcourt players.
The E-Painters have passed a test earlier against a tall team as they cut down to size Junmar Fajardo and the San Miguel team, 99-84.
Gunners Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Chris Tiu, Beau Belga and Jericho Cruz all connected from beyond the arc, and the Elasto Painters helped one another to neutralize Fajardo
“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 then
“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,” Guiao added.
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