RAIN or Shine extended Magnolia’s misery with a grind out 102-100 win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night.
The Elasto Painters lost a double-digit lead and then came back from a double-digit deficit in nailing their third straight win against a single loss.
Following the setback, the Hotshots have now lost four games in a row at 1-4 despite bringing back key players Paul Lee and Zav Lucero from injuries.
In the second game, Barangay Ginebra bounced back from its last loss against Eastern by thumping lowly Terrafirma, 114-98, behind the 49-point explosion of import Justin Brownlee.
The Kings improved to a 3-1 record, while the Dyip now hold a 0-6 card, worst in the league.
Some of the takeaways in the league’s penultimate doubleheader at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for the year.
1. CAN MAGNOLIA STILL TURN CAMPAIGN AROUND? – the Hotshots are currently in their longest losing streak – four straight games – since Games 2-5 of the 2018 Philippine Cup finals against San Miguel. They currently shared the second to the last spot with Phoenix and Blackwater and should the playoffs be held today, the team is certainly out of it. If there’s a silver lining for Magnolia, it's that the team also faced the same scenario (1-4) in the 2019 Philippine Cup, but still reached the finals and lost a close series to San Miguel.
2. A STARTING FIVE OF INJURIES FOR GINEBRA – as if the trio of Jamie Malonzo, Isaac Go, and Jeremiah Gray weren't enough, Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt further added to the injury woes of the Kings. Holt is out with a hurting knee and Aguilar with a groin injury, both of which they suffered in a 93-90 loss to Eastern. Both Aguilar and Holt are day-to-day or even week-to-week as far as their health issue is concerned. For sure, it’s a big blow to Ginebra’s campaign the absence of the quintet, which coach Tim Cone referred to as a ‘darn good pretty starting lineup.’
3. RAIN OR SHINE PICKS UP FROM WHERE IT LEFT OFF – after losing their first assignment – without import Deon Thompson – against Meralco, the Elasto Painters have racked up three straight wins against guest team Eastern, defending champion San Miguel, and Magnolia. Who knows, the team could have been 4-0 right now had Thompson managed to play against the Bolts. It’s the same path taken by the franchise in the last Governors’ Cup when it won its first five games of the tournament and made it all the way to the semis, only to lose in five games to eventual champion TNT. The rate things are going, it won’t be a surprise if Rain or Shine makes it to the quarterfinals, but it won’t be a surprise if coach Yeng Guiao and his boys make a deeper run in the playoffs this time.
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