ANTIPOLO – Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said he is thinking about making major changes after its 0-3 start to the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Guiao said the Elasto Painters will now be discussing possible solutions as they continue to search for a breakthrough win after their 99-98 loss to Phoenix sent them crashing to the bottom of the standings with Converge.
READ: Great Phoenix escape deals Rain or Shine a third successive loss
“It’s getting more difficult to get back,” said Guiao. “We need to siguro think of drastic measures at this point. We will discuss this on Monday and probably make some decisions. Ang next game namin is on Friday. We need to start winning if we still want to have a chance at the playoffs.”
“Ang problema namin, ‘yung malalakas na team na ang makakalaban namin. That makes it even more difficult ‘yung situation namin,” said Guiao.
The next game for Rain or Shine will be against reigning champion Barangay Ginebra on Friday.
Guiao admitted one of the measures is to replace their import DaJuan Summers but added that in itself would not necessarily turn things around for Rain or Shine.
The 35-year-old Summers is averaging 24.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks through three games but only contributed 15 points, while shooting 3-of-13 from the field, in the loss to the Fuel Masters.
Import takes heat
“Alam naman natin na pagka-ganito, ‘yung import talaga ‘yung pinakamadaling desisyunan or pinakamalaking impact doon sa decision sa team. Of course, I think that’s really obvious. There’s always a pressure on imports to carry the team. And you’ll be measured by that standard. Are you able to carry the team? And if you are losing, you are not able to carry the team,” said Guiao.
“DaJuan understands the situation. We already talked and maybe we can talk again and make him realize the window for us to get into the next round is getting smaller. Kailangan namin i-assess in a short period of time to react to the situation,” said Guiao.
“Mahirap din kasi magdesisyon ng nagmamadali. Baka from one mistake to another. We will consult our coaches and management and make some decisions maybe next week or midweek,” he added.
Guiao said Summers performed well during the preseason, but noticed that he was being outplayed when pitted against younger imports including 28-year-old Johnathan Williams, who had 29 markers on Saturday.
“Before the conference, very optimistic kami kay DaJuan nung nakita namin sa practice. Siguro ang naging problema lang is baka ‘yung age factor, kalaban niya ‘yung mas bata. Kung titignan mo ‘yung tatlong laro, he was always outscored and outrebounded.
"We are kinda surprised kasi alam namin kaya niya umiskor at rumebound. Nakakasabay naman siya sa takbuhan namin. Maybe we will give it a last attempt to fix things but we should always be ready to make the big decisions,” said Guiao.
Guiao believes that Rain or Shine has the tools to make a push if it could come up with a victory as early as possible.
“Naniniwala ako na once we hit on the right situation, we’ll be able to redirect our focus and make some decisions, if we can string up two or three wins, we can get back to the fight," said the veteran coach.
"Ang ano lang namin ngayon is how to win our first game and what adjustments that we need to do that. Maybe some drastic measures that we need to make but we can only make that in a meeting siguro where we have to be more open to making major decisions,” said Guiao.
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