San Miguel dealt Rain or Shine a first loss in five games in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, but Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao did not mind as the Beermen needed a June Mar Fajardo winner to pull it off.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao uncharacteristically smiled after San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo sank the game-winning jumper to register a 113-112 decision in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup last September 5.
Instead of sulking, Guiao took pleasure in the fact his Elasto Painters pushed the mighty Beermen to the limit and even put themselves in a prime position to win the game after super rookie Felix Lemetti cooly canned four free throws with three seconds remaining.
But then, the eight-time MVP Fajardo happened.
“Sayang, pero maganda laro. Nag enjoy mga fans,” said Guiao after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Importante na makita nila quality games, exciting, we had a chance to win the game pero pagka kasi ganun mga sitwasyon di talaga para sayo yung ganun. We can accept that. Kesa dun sa natalo ka na di ka lumaban, bmigay ka.”
[RELATED STORY: PBA: 'Steady, hindi nagpa-panic' | Yeng Guiao rains praises on rookie, 'solid option' Felix Lemetti despite loss to San Miguel]
Though the loss tainted Rain or Shine’s then perfect 4-0 record in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Guiao did not mind.
The resilience in the face of the battle-tested San Miguel was a sign maturity for the young Elasto Painters.
“At least kami, nalamangan kami eight or 10 at a certain point ang feeling ko baka bumigay pero lumaban pa rin. I guess that’s a sign of character. That’s a sign of maturity,” said Guiao on the day usually reliables Santi Santillan, Andrei Caracut, and Jhonard Clarito had an off game.
Now Rain or Shine is moving on from this loss and is shifting its focus on its goal of getting six wins in Pool B, which hopefully would be enough for the team to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Elasto Painters will next face Phoenix on Tuesday, Spetember 10 at the Ninoy Aquno Stadium.
“I think ang importante we come out of this game with our lessons learned, game experiences,” said Guiao.