DOES facing Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup serve as a good omen for Rain or Shine?
The Elasto Painters advanced to the semifinals after defeating San Miguel, 113-104, last Saturday to make sure that their quarterfinal series against the reigning Philippine Cup champion won't reach the knockout game.
READ: Scottie-Abarrientos vs Caracut and Co. should be fun to watch
Rain or Shine's win last Saturday ended a four-series losing skid against the Beermen, with their previous victory dating back to the 2016 Commissioner's Cup where they beat them, 3-1, in the semifinals.
That conference, Rain or Shine won its second, and last title, in the PBA, beating Alaska in a six-game series.
Coincidentally, Rain or Shine's playoff campaign that conference started with a quarterfinal clash against Barangay Ginebra. The Elasto Painters swept the Gin Kings in a 5-seed vs 4-seed best-of-three quarterfinal showdown.
The Elasto Painters opened the series with an 88-84 win over Barangay Ginebra on April 17, 2016.
Two days later, Jeff Chan towed the Elasto Painters to a 102-89 win over the Gin Kings to advance to the semifinals where they battled top-seed San Miguel, a team that it eventually defeated.
Since then, Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra faced each other in the playoffs thrice - the 2017-18 Philippine Cup quarterfinals and 2018 Commissioner's Cup semifinals being the first two - all of which with the Elasto Painters on the losing end
The Elasto Painters lost once again to the Gin Kings during the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Pampanga as the eighth seed, with their opponent eventually becoming the champion.
History is the last thing Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, although it is also of note that Guiao was no longer the coach of the Elasto Painters during their three previous match-ups with Barangay Ginebra.
“Hindi ako naniwala sa mga ganun. You just have to earn it. But it's a good sign but ang daming factors pa na puwedeng mangyari,” said Guiao.
But sometimes, history also repeats itself.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
