ANTIPOLO – Yeng Guiao didn’t deny Rain or Shine felt the effect of losing one of its leaders in Gian Mamuyac to another team.
But life goes on for Rain or Shine as there’s a more pressing matter to be concerned about after the Elasto Painters found themselves going down 0-2 in the PBA Governors’ Cup following a 122-114 loss to the Meralco Bolts on Saturday night at the Ynares Center here.
Guiao knows the absence of the team’s former captain remains at the back of the players’ mind, but slowly but surely, the Elasto Painters need to accept reality – basketball being a business in itself.
READ: Meralco takes first Governors' Cup win at expense of winless RoS
“Malaking bagay sai Mamu sa amin, pero siguro tanggapin na namin yung reality na nasa ibang team na siya (Mamuyac),” said the veteran and champion coach after Rain or Shine’s second straight loss in a week’s span.
“We tried to avoid talking too much about it. Kasi nagiging distraction siya,” he added. “Even sa dugout, we try not to discuss yung nakaraan or yung sitwasyon kay Mamu.”
In the team’s first game minus Mamuyac, Rain or Shine had a hard time of defending against the Meralco backcourt.
“I’m a little disappointed with our guard defense kasi ang pumatay sa amin sila (Jason) Brickman, sila (Chris) Banchero. We defended them really poorly,” admitted Guiao.
Brickman, the Bolts’ Fil-am rookie, finished with a season-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field while adding seven assists. Banchero shot 4-of-8 for 15 points as the two helped Meralco notch its first win in the conference.
But even when Mamuyac was still around during Rain or Shine’s initial outing against Blackwater, the same problem compounded the team’s woes.
“Ganun din ang nangyari sa amin sa Blackwater. We couldn’t defend sina RK Ilagan, sina (Dalph) Panopio, sina (Cedric) Barefield. So were really having issues and problems with our defense concerning our guards,” added Guiao.
“So kung ano yung naging problema namin against Blackwater, ito ulit yung naging problema namin. It’s really our match up with the opposing guards. So we have to address that in the next game.”
Curiously, Rain or Shine’s next game will be against Mamu and the Fuel Masters on Tuesday at the same Antipolo City venue.
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