YENG Guiao isn't too disappointed with Rain or Shine despite failing to make it past the semifinals for the third straight conference.
The Elasto Painters coach said it was still a good PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign for the team, whose title bid came to an end on Friday night after losing to TNT Tropang Giga, 97-92, in Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine lost the best-of-seven series, 4-1, marking the second time the team lost to TNT in the semis.
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Still, Guiao said he was satisfied with the way the Elasto Painters competed.
“I’m proud of what we have accomplished. We’re happy with the performance of our import (Deon Thompson). Overall, were also satisfied with our performance as a team,” the veteran coach stressed.
“We will get better, we are getting better.”
The way TNT won the series didn’t reflect how close the semis battle as a whole was fought, according to Guiao.
He said all five games could have gone either way, including the series clincher which saw the Elasto Painters lost grip of a 13-point lead.
“4-1 yung series pero we felt that every game we played we had a chance to win. Yung five games na yun may pagkakataon na makuha namin yung laro. Breaks lang (talaga),” said Guiao.
“Siguro dapat matuto lang kaming maglaro ng endgame. Again I don’t want to make it an excuse na bata 'yung team namin. Hindi na bata yung team namin. Kailangan lang talaga, siguro a little bit more of the mental toughness in trying to close out games.”
Rain or Shine will take a brief rest and then resume practice as it looks forward to the season-ending Philippine Cup.
And Guiao vowed the Elasto Painters will keep trying to make the finals for the first time in nine years.
“As you play in the quarters, in the semis, ito yung mga napakahalagang lessons that will make your team better,” said Guiao. “All-Filipino na next conference, I think laban ulit.”
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