RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao considers the absence of Rey Nambatac as a major break in their bid to overcome the surging TNT on Wednesday as the two teams renew acquaintances in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The Elasto Painters take on the Tropang 5G at the Ynares Center-Antipolo following their Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series where they fall short, 4-1, in their best-of-seven salvo against the eventual champion of the conference.
READ: Rey Nambatac out four to six weeks for TNT due to groin injury
They also met in the Governors’ Cup semifinals with the same scoreline.
For the Wednesday match, however, a notable player who won’t be around is Rey Nambatac, the Finals MVP of the Commissioner’s Cup as he will be out for four to six weeks due to a groin injury.
“It’s a big break for us,” said Guiao, who also cited the absence of Governors’ Cup Finals MVP Jayson Castro for the rest of the season due to a right patellar tendon tear as another boost to their skirmish.
“Alam naman natin na wala na nga si Jayson tapos ang ganda pa ng nilaro ni Rey sa championship tapos ‘yun nga may injury,” Guiao said.
Injuries can happen to any team, which is why Guiao is also cautious about TNT, which has been playing well as of late even without Nambatac.
After a slow start, TNT is on a roll, winning three straight games including a 101-84 win over Meralco last Sunday.
“Sa lahat ng teams, nangyayari ‘yan. You just have to be ready. Kung matapat sayo, you get a break. Pero kung matapat sayo ‘yung injury, ikaw ang nagkaroon ng injury, kasama talaga sa laro ‘yun. It evens out in the long term,” said Guiao.
Guiao’s team isn’t spared from injuries this conference, so he knows the feeling, and he is glad that the players are starting to come back in pink health, among them Keith Datu, who previously had a calf injury, and even Gabe Norwood, who had a pulled hamstring last week.
With the players generally healthy, Rain or Shine defeated Magnolia, 119-105, last Sunday to end the Hotshots’ six-game winning streak to start the conference.
A concern, though, is Caelan Tiongson, who sprained his ankle against Magnolia last Sunday and may not be a hundred percent for the TNT game.
“Si Caelan, medyo na-tweak niya ‘yung ankle niya. ‘Yun ang importante, we are just hoping that we can stay healthy. Kapag healthy kami, medyo maganda ‘yung laban,” said Guiao.
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