ANTIPOLO – Rain or Shine avoided an early quarterfinal showdown with TNT on Wednesday after its loss to Magnolia in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
The Elasto Painters lost to the Hotshots, 107-103, in a game where both teams pulled out their imports early with some of the second and third stringers on the floor in the fourth quarter.
Rain or Shine also rested injured Caelan Tiongson (rotator cuff) and Christian Manaytay (flu) in the contest.
Entering Wednesday’s match-up, Rain or Shine needed to sweep its remaining games in order to secure the No. 1 seed. Magnolia, on the other hand, only had to win against Rain or Shine in their final game of the elims to gain first place.
READ: Magnolia beats ROS to secure No. 1 seed, seal quarterfinal vs TNT
In the end, it was Magnolia which took No. 1 where it will face defending champion TNT, the fourth-seed in Group B.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said Rain or Shine wasn’t thinking about the seedings or their possible playoff opponent in the home stretch of the eliminations even with TNT on the horizon. The Elasto Painters lost to the Tropang 5G in all three semifinal appearances last season.
“Ang usap-usapan naman sa coaching staff, sanay naman kaming makalaban ang TNT,” said Guiao. “Sanay kaming binubugbog ng TNT, it will not matter.”
“At saka kung gusto mong mag-champion, you have to play the best teams anyway so at some point, kung deserving ka na to go deeper in the playoff, magkikita-kita kayo ‘yung mga magagaling talaga. Might as well, But with the result, mag-iiba ang pairings,” he continued.
Rain or Shine had a chance to extend the game into overtime when Deo Cuajao took a four-point shot. He missed the attempt, but Guiao was visibly irked as he felt there should have been a foul called on the play.
“We wanted to win this game but at the same time, we wanted to preserve our players. We had a chance to win the game, except there was an obvious foul with our player shooting a four-point shot with the game actually on the line. We should have gotten four free throws but the referees just botched the call. Sayang naman, may chance kaming makatabla ng laro," he said.
“We deserve the call but we didn’t get it."
With the loss, Rain or Shine’s seeding remains uncertain ahead of Friday’s game against Phoenix Super LPG where the Elasto Painters must win in order to avoid a possible No. 4 seed in the quarters.
Guiao said they are taking the same approach as in their game against Magnolia where he wants the players to be unscathed while also looking for the victory.
“Lahat naman ‘yan must-win. Of course, meron kang inaanticipate na parating na bakbakan. Ibabalanse mo na maipanalo mo ‘yung laro pero at the same time, ma-preserve mo ‘yung manpower mo na healthy sila. It’s going to be disastrous kung biglang hindi naman necessary to play long minutes tapos biglang may mangyayaring disgrasya. Mas malaking cargo ‘yun.”
“So I think yes we want to win and we don’t care about what the crossover pairings will be. But at the same time, parati kong sinasabi na (kailangan) sharp, healthy ‘yung mga players and fresh dapat,” Guiao said.
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