Though already assured of a quarterfinal berth, Rain or Shine wants to make a statement before heading into the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup playoffs.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guia had a modest goal entering PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
Win six games and punch a quarterfinal ticket.
Guiao reminded his wards of that goal on Tuesday, September 17, and the latter accomplished that after Elasto Painters hacked out a 123-114 win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Rain or Shine now shares the top spot in Group B with San Miguel with identical 6-2 win-loss cards.
“The most important thing for us was just to win a game. Overtime man 'yan, one-point (win) man 'yan, 20-point (win) man 'yan,” said Guiao. “Importante manalo tayo para maka-look forward tayo sa playoffs. We accomplished that tonight.”
A tougher challenge awaits them now, though.
In two days, Rain or Shine will face a sizzling Beermen at 7:30pm at the same venue.
“We have a chance at San Miguel on Thursday. We’ll see if we can still play for the number 1 spot in our group,” he said.
“I think we have a chance at that. We’ll keep trying.”
Guiao and the rest of the Elasto Painters are treating that game as a playoff game. After all, if they want to make a deeper playoff run this time, they really have to go through the mighty San Miguel.
“It’s a playoff game. Limang talo na kami sa San Miguel, from last conference pa,” said Guiao, whose team was swept by the Beermen in last season’s Philippine Cup semifinals.
“Hindi pa namin naso-solve si June Mar (Fajardo). Di pa namin naso-solve 'yung import (Jordan Adams) nila.”
Guiao, though, is hopeful they will solve those riddles soon.
“Pero maso-solve din namin 'yun pag dating ng araw. Tignan natin sa Thursday,” he said.