By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine is determined to give its Top 4 spot and the quarterfinals bonus a boost when it takes on the also-ran Terrafirma on Wednesday, June 4 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Elasto Painters can move up from the middle pack of the standings if they prevail in their 5 p.m. showdown. That will give them a 6-3 card – just a game behind league-leading Magnolia Hotshots and NLEX Road Warriors.
But other teams like San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra and TNT are also still in the hunt for the Top 4 spot so it’s almost imperative for Rain or Shine to pick up the much-needed win.
A battle for pride is set to follow up in the second game as eliminated teams Phoenix and NorthPort aim to start ending their respective conference on a high in the 7:30 p.m. affair.
But Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao warned his wards to not be complacent especially for a team that has nothing to lose.
“Bilin ko sa team it’s always dangerous playing a team na walang pressure. They might be trying to have a good account of themselves before they bow out so it’s always dangerous,” Guiao said of Terrafirma which after winning its next eight game to bow out of contention
“Any time you step on a basketball court with another team you always have a chance of losing. Minsan maliit lang iyung chance pero nangyayari pa rin. We have to be careful of that,” he added.
And to do that, the Elasto Painters must not let the Dyip get any sort of confidence at the start of the contest and Guiao is relying on guys like Adrian Nocum, Gian Mamuyac, Leonard Santillan and Andrei Caracut to do just that.
“Ang importante d’yan maaga pa lang we have to take control of the game. Kapag nakadikit sila sa iyo medyo delikado na iyon. Converge game nila ganoon, nag-delikado,” added Guiao. “That’s one thing we’re trying to avoid.”
Easier said than done since the Dyip still have potent players in the likes of Stanley Pringle and Mark Sangalang as well as rookie Mark Nonoy.
