RAIN or Shine bounced back from a terrible beating last week with a more disciplined performance to manhandle Barako Bull, 98-71, in their PBA Philippine Cup match on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jeff Chan, who shot just 27 percent from the field in the team’s first four games, came away with 23 points to lead the Elasto Painters, who were warned by coach Yeng Guiao that trades will be in the offing if the team doesn't shape up.
Guiao missed the game to attend a climate change conference overseas in his capacity as a congressman representing the first district of Pampanga.
“Today, we had a totally different effort, because coming from the Talk ‘N Text game, we had no effort,” said Rain or Shine’s top deputy coach Caloy Garcia, who called the shots in the absence of Guiao.
Garcia confirmed that Guiao also fired a warning to the Elasto Painters, threatening to move some of them through trades if they fail to shape up in the season-opening conference.
“Sinabi kasi ni coach, kung di kami manalo, kailangan gumalaw kami sa trade. So if the effort is not there, he won’t keep them. He said this last Tuesday in practice,” Garcia said.
“I think that opened the eyes of the players, at na-realize nila na di kami puwede maging kampante, we have to really come out and take this as a job we do.”
The Elasto Painters came out of the gates breathing fire to open a 25-7 lead, the energy of the team so much higher than in a 99-76 beating at the hands of Talk ‘N Text last weekend.
“We were not moving the ball. Nobody’s boxing out in that (Talk ‘N Text) game. But today, our players came out strong,” said Garcia.
Rain or Shine shot better from the field at 46 percent (38-of-83) and won the rebounding battle, 56-47, after getting outrebounding by 31 by the Tropang Texters.
The Painters also had more assists, 20-12, and held a 55-36 advantage in bench scoring.
The scores:
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
