NOT a lot of things changed on a cold and rainy Wednesday night for Rain or Shine when it battled NLEX.
Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao was as animated as ever, giving instructions to his charges and going bananas on the referees’ calls or non-calls.
There was just one big difference–after Rain or Shine streaked to its third straight game, Guiao expressed surprise.
“Laking bagay nitong good start kasi nag-start na kami ng 0-5, nag-start na kami ng 0-4. Parang nasa ibang mundo kami, nag-start kami ng 3-0, hindi yata kami sanay sa ganito,” Guiao said. “Pero nakikita mo, gumaganda ang laro ng mga bata. Natutuwa ako. Sabi ko nga kanina, nag-e-enjoy akong panoorin iyong sarili naming laro.
“Nag-e-enjoy akong makita kong naglalaro sila. Siguro nag-e-enjoy din iyong mga nanonood,” he added.
Guiao spoke after the Painters humbled the Road Warriors 124-105 to stay perfect in Group B of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Rain or Shine erased an early 21-point second quarter deficit en route to its best start since the 2021 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark and remained as the only unbeaten squad in the season-opening conference.
The Painters are jiving, main reason for their sizzling start.
“Very tight itong group na ito. Malakas iyong bond nila. One reason siguro na you see them share the ball, that’s an effect of their camaraderie,” Guiao said. “You see them support each other, magkamali sila, mag-mintis sila, pagalitan ko sila, they support each other.
“Pagdating sa laro, walang naiinggit, walang nag-se-selos. Bigyan mo ng playing time, okay sa kanila. Huwag mo bigyan ng playing time, okay din sa kanila.”
Newly minted Most Improved Player of the Year Jhonard Clarito had a game-high 24 points on an impeccable 9-of-9 shooting from the field, to go with three rebounds and four assists for Rain or Shine while Gian Mamuyac backed him up with 22 markers and six dimes.
Import Aaron Fuller also had 21 points and 20 boards while Andrei Caracut and rookie Caelan Tiongson contributed 17 and 10, respectively, as the Painters scored a big follow up to a 73-64 triumph over the Ginebra Kings in Candon, Ilocos Sur Saturday last week.
NLEX suffered its first defeat after a 100-95 decision over Phoenix five days ago and fell to 2-1.
Robert Bolick showed the way for the Road Warriors with 22 points, four rebounds and seven feeds while reinforcement Myke Henry had 21 and six.
Richie Rodger, Michael Miranda, and freshman Jonnel Policarpio also got 16, 15, and 13 markers, respectively, for NLEX.
Guiao ended the post-game interview by dropping a customary banter that typified his team’s desire to win it all.
“Kahit hindi mo suwelduhan itong mga ito, okay din,” he said.
