RAIN or Shine seeks to further bring balance to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup table and get back on the winning track as it squares off against NLEX on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters, along with other perennial title contenders, are in unusual territory at second to last in the 12-team standings after suffering three straight losses following a win to start the conference.
ROS tries to snap out of the losing spell when it takes on the Road Warriors at 4:15 p.m.
“As long as we’re not eliminated, we’ll try to stay alive,” E-Painters coach Yeng Guiao said. “We still have a pretty good chance.”
Unlike in the Philippine Cup where only two teams got the boot, four squads will be eliminated in the midseason tournament with the other eight advancing to the playoffs.
But Meralco, Mahindra, Mahindra, and Phoenix have all had better starts and records than the Painters.
“Ang nangyayari kasi ngayon, yung mga malalakas na team, hirap pa manalo at yung mga dati namang hindi nananalo, sila nasa taas,” Guiao said.
“(But) my reading is: later on, it will balance out after a few games, so magkikita lahat yan sa gitna,” the outspoken mentor said. “And we’re hoping na nandun din kami when that happens.”
San Miguel Beer and Alaska have started to tilt the balance back in the fancied teams' favor with separate victories last week to suddenly climb to joint second spot with 2-1 win-loss slates.
Alaska aims for a third straight win as it battles Phoenix (1-2) in the second game of the doubleheader at 7 o’clock.
The Elasto Painters try to follow suit and are eager to bounce back strong after an embarrassing 128-102 loss to the Aces last Saturday, hoping to get a more spirited showing from import Antoine Wright.
Jeff Chan, however, is questionable after the ROS gunner sprained his ankle against the Aces.
The Road Warriors, bannered by Al Thornton, also seek to recover from a 106-99 loss to Mahindra last Friday that left them stuck at .500 with a 2-2 card.
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