TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa and Rain or Shine counterpart Yeng Guiao probably spent sleepless nights during the Christmas and New Year break due to contrasting fates.
Guiao’s Elasto Painters have won four straight games that kept alive their drive for inclusion in the Last Eight of the season-opening conference.
The Tropang Giga of Lastimosa dropped their last two games and will no longer have prolific import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the rest of the conference due to a neck injury.
“Hindi na puwedeng bumalik si Rondae because he is injured. We are putting in Rahlir, his brother,” Lastimosa said. “He is very fragile. He cannot turn his neck and I talked to his doctor and iyong injury na spinal cord na ganoon, you don’t take it lightly.
“Even if wala nang pain, it’s a physical game. It can be jarred again and re-injure that neck again. We are going the conservative part and protect Rondae’s career,” he added.
Rain or Shine and TNT square off for a quarterfinals slot today as the PBA Commissioner’s Cup resumes at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The nightcap is set at 8 p.m., with the combatants eyeing an outright berth in the playoffs.
Like the teams playing before them, the NorthPort Batang Pier likewise seek a quarterfinals spot when they take on the also-ran Blackwater Bossing in the curtain-raiser at 4 o’clock.
After starting the import-spiced tilt with five defeats in a row, Rain or Shine woke up from stupor and gave itself a chance to advance to the next round.
Guiao credited his locals jiving with reinforcement Tree Treadwell as one the keys in their resurgence.
“It’s been a good combination of locals and our import,” Guiao said after his charges subdued Terrafirma 116-105 last Dec. 23 that hiked their mark to 4-5 in a tie with the Tropang Giga.
“Our chemistry is getting better. Magandang sign din na si Jhonard (Clarito) ang best player. Ibig sabihin lang nito, lahat ng panalo namin, spread out iyong credit at contribution.”
Aside from Treadwell and Clarito, the likes of Andrei Caracut, Leonard Santillan, rookie Keith Datu, and veterans Beau Belga and Mac Belo will be counted upon by the Painters to rise to the occasion.
The Batang Pier ended the year with a 104-113 loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters last Dec. 20 that pulled them down to 5-4.
The Bonnie Tan-mentored NorthPort side will rely on import Venky Jois, Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, JM Calma, and freshmen Fran Yu and Cade Flores.
With only a victory to show against eight setbacks, Blackwater is keen on winding up its campaign with two more wins beginning with its clash with the Batang Pier.
Reinforcement Chris Ortiz, No. 2 pick Christian David, Troy Rosario, RK Ilagan, and Mike DiGregorio are expected to spearhead the Bossing’s charge.
Playing all-Filipino, TNT fell to defending champion Ginebra 78-86 last Christmas Day.
“We played enough to win, hindi lang naitawid dahil pagod na ang mga players namin,” Lastimosa, who will lean on Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams, Glenn Khobuntin, and Jewel Ponferada.
With Rondae Hollis-Jefferson out for good, will new import Rahlir prove he is his brother’s keeper?
