Rain or Shine must find ways to grow up and climb from the 0-2 hole in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals against TNT.
For the youthful Rain or Shine squad, experience—or the supposed lack of it—should no longer be an excuse.
Just ask Elasto Painters veteran Beau Belga.
“Pag sinabi mong bata yung mga 18 to 20 years old. Most sa’min nasa 23 hanggang nasa 25 na. Yung edad ng mga kasamahan ko pa-peak na laro,” said Belga, whose team was coming off a semifinal appearance in last season’s Philippine Cup, before making the semifinals again in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.
Belga is certainly on point. A prime example is Rain or Shine rookie Felix Lemetti, who is already 25-years-old and has proven to be steady for the Elasto Painters when it matters most.
“So hindi mo pwede sabihin na less experienced kami kasi nag semis kami last time (in the Philippine Cup),” he added.
Belga made these remarks after the Tropang Giga outclassed the Elasto Painters in Game 2 to nab a 2-0 lead in their ongoing semis series.
[RELATED STORY: Chot Reyes lauds Poy Erram, Henry Galinato in fulfilling defensive role vs. Aaron Fuller]
As Rain or Shine faces a tough predicament, head coach Yeng Guiao could not agree more with Belga with regard to the Elasto Painters struggles to pick up a win in the later stages of the tournament.
“Hindi ko na nga sinasabing bata sila. That’s becoming an excuse. Sabi ko wag isiping bata tayo,” he said.
Whether or not the Elasto Painters actually do lack experience, the only way to gain some is to grow up and break through against a tough TNT team that's looking for back-to-back titles.
“Of course kailangan pa rin mag-mature. But if we keep thinking na bata kami, may excuse kami, baka di ka na mag-improve. So kailangan talaga pilitin mo na makapaglaro ka sa level ng kalaban,” Guiao said.
[ALSO READ: PBA commissioner Willie Marcial says GAB also looking into John Amores shooting incident]
Belga and Guiao believe they need just one game to outgrow this mentality.
“We’re looking to win one game. Kapag ka 0-2 survival mode na yan. Just win one game and hope that momentum shifts. Yun objective namin for Sunday,” coach Yeng said.
Game 3 is set on Sunday, October 13 at the Dasmarinas City Arena.