Painters out to weather another big storm

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RAIN or Shine saved its best for last in the eliminations.

As a result, the Elasto Painters averted what could have been a more difficult situation in their bid in the mid-season tourney.

“Ang importante, we’re playing in the quarterfinals, in a best-of-three, instead of playing in a twice-to-beat with you at a disadvantage or having to go through a playoff,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “So, iyon nga, this is the best scenario for us considering na medyo after our five-game win streak noong December, itong January, medyo masama inilalaro namin. Mabuti nakabawi kami.

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“Ang sabi ko nga 0-0 ulit. Iyong mga losing streak, winning streak, wala na lahat iyon. Panibagong, parang panibagong umpisa ulit ito,” he added.

The Painters hacked out a 106-96 victory over the TNT Tropang Giga last Friday night in the final elims game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The all-important win allowed Rain or Shine to wind up with a 7-5 mark and bag the No. 6 spot in the Last Eight against third-ranked Converge.

More importantly, the Painters dodged the possibility of ending at seventh where they will have to make do with a twice-to-beat disadvantage or even worse fighting for a playoff for the No. 8 berth.

Both with 6-6 cards, Magnolia and NLEX clashed in a do-or-die tiff last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with the winner facing top seed and twice-to-beat NorthPort.

TNT finished No. 2, also with a win-once incentive, and will square off with foreign guest team Eastern.

Ginebra and Meralco will duel in the other race-to-2 quarterfinals pairing.

What gnaws at Guiao and his Painters are the young and confident FibeXers who amassed an 8-4 record for third.

“So, ang problema lang namin ngayon, mag-fo-focus kami, problema lang namin paano tatalunin nang dalawang beses iyong Converge,” Guiao said. “Iyong mga losing streak, winning streak, hindi mo na dapat isipin iyan.”

To add an interesting subplot in the series aside from the fact that the protagonists are independent teams?

Guiao will go up against fellow Pampanga native and Converge owner Dennis Uy and top backer Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda.

But that will have to take a backseat.

“Actually, malapit ako, sobrang malapit ako doon kay ‘Delta,”’kay Dennis Uy. Pero ibang usapan ito. Ibang usapan ito,” he said. “Also, parang pamilya sila. Pero pagdating sa ganito siyempre mauuna muna ito, iyong interes ng Rain or Shine. Laban talaga ito.”

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