Rain or Shine lusot na sa semis

Pasok na ang Rain or Shine Elasto Painters sa semifinals ng PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup matapos na talunin ang Magnolia Hotshots 113-103 nitong Sabado ng gabi October 5, sa Ynares Center, Antipolo City. 

Sa pakiwari ng Elasto Painters, tila nagkamali ng desisyon ang Magnolia sa pagpili ng makakalaban sa quarterfinal round.

Bagama’t walang mga star players ang RoS ay sinibak nito ang Hotshots 3-2, sa kanilang best-of-five quarterfinals showdown papasok sa semis ng season-opening conference.

“We felt a little challenged kasi alam namin na parang ginusto ng Magnolia na kami ang makatapat nila na ‘yung game nila with Converge. Maybe, mas maganda na magsisi sila na tayo ang pinili nila. That was put as a challenge,” ani Guiao.

Ayon kay RoS coach Yeng Guiao, imbes aniya na isabak ang kanilang mga bigating pla­yers ay mas pinili umano ni coach Chito Victolero na ipahinga ang mga ito. 

“I felt na mas importante sa kanila ‘yung makapagpahinga ‘yung mga players kesa mag-compete sa larong ‘yun. To me, it was really a conscious choice on their part to play us,” sabi pa ni Guiao. 

Samantala, ikinatuwa naman ni Guiao ang  naging resulta ng kanilang laban kontra Hotshots at ikinatuwa din nito ang mga naging performance ng kanyang mga manlalaro lalo na ang naging ambag sa panalo nila Andrei Caracut at Aaron Fuller. 

"Proud ako as they competed and fought it out and hindi sila bumigay under pressure. It's the fighting heart that these guys showed. Actually, all of them. They’ve gotten into that mental state where they know when I get angry, it is a way for them to be motivated. They know that already. There are players that when you scold them, they do not respond well. But Andrei responds well,” ayon kay Guiao. 

"Aaron's value is simple. We will not be here if not for Aaron. He carried us on his broad shoulders," patungkol ni Guiao sa kanyang soft-spoken import. Magnolia's defense was just clamping down on him, double teamed, tripled teamed, sometimes the whole team is around him, and sometimes he's frustrated because he doesn't get the foul he feels he should get."

"But Aaron kept his composure, he held his emotions under checked. He's a silent leader, doesn't talk much, but his action speaks for themselves. He just works hard. We will not be here if not for Aaron," dagdag pa ni Guiao.

Lalabanan na ng Elasto Painters sa best-of-seven semis duel ang TNT Tropang Giga sa Miyerkules, October 9, sa PhilSports Arena. 

The Scores :

RAIN OR SHINE 113 - Fuller 26, Clarito 17, Nocum 17, Caracut 14, Santillan 12, Datu 11, Belga 11, Lemetti 5, Mamuyac 2, Asistio 1, Norwood 0.

MAGNOLIA 103 - Bird 23, Abueva 16, Ahanmisi 15, Sangalang 12, Lee 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 6, Eriobu 4, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.

QUARTERS : 20-29, 52-55, 85-83, 113-103