RAIN or Shine has matched its best start in franchise history, a good omen for a balllcub hungry for another PBA championship.
The Elasto Painters beat Phoenix, 116-99, on Friday for their fourth straight win to open the season, equalling their best start in franchise history in the 2012 Governors’ Cup which, incidentally, also marked their first-ever championship.
That Rain or Shine champion team had Jamelle Cornley as import. Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood as the only remaining holdovers from that era. Another player from that title team was Jireh Ibanes, now its team manager.
READ Rain or Shine rips Phoenix, matches best start in franchise history
Rain or Shine’s second and last championship came in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup - and no other independent team has won a league title since.
Though the wins are definitely a good sign, head coach Yeng Guiao is the first to say that it is still a long way to go.
“Hindi pa naman title contention kasi naliliitan pa ako sa sample size natin,” said Guiao. “Four games pa lang, makakalaban namin San Miguel, five games pa lang.”
Guiao is referring to Rain or Shine’s next outing against San Miguel in six days' time to be played at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Kailangan kasi alam mong matatag ka sa playoffs. Alam mo kung magaling ka na talaga o contender ka na kapag nasa playoffs ka na at siguro nakakapagbigay ka ng magandang laban sa playoffs,” said Guiao.
“Pero sa eliminations, ‘yung ibang teams dito, painit pa lang, late naghanda ng preseason, makikita mo talaga ang galing nila towards the middle of the eliminations and towards the end of the eliminations,” he added.
Aside from San Miguel which it will face again after the September 5 contest, Rain or Shine will still take on Barangay Ginebra twice along with the other squads it had previously beaten.
“Maganda lang na nakikita na nananalo ka pero mahirap sabihin na title contender na kami,” said Guiao.
Guiao cautioned that their situation remains precarious, saying a young team like theirs can unravel after a string of losses.
“Fragile ito. Matalo ka lang ng dalawang beses, ma-demoralize ka, ma-injure lang ‘yung isang player mo, nag-iislide ka na naman,” said the veteran coach.
"Kailangan talagang pangalagaan."
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