RAIN or Shine tries to stay within striking distance of the frontrunners while Phoenix Super LPG fights for survival as they slug it out in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday.
The Elasto Painters were right there in the lead bunch before a sorry 103-111 loss to a depleted but torrid-shooting TNT squad on May 21 dragging them down the middle of the chart at 4-3.
But coach Yeng Guiao's wards are still just behind the top four, and a strong closing run in the elims could still give them a coveted spot with a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
It's first things first for the Elasto Painters, though.
Their immediate goal is to rebound from their loss to the Tropang 5G and reenergize their drive towards a playoff entry.
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ROS' closing assignments pit them against Phoenix, cellar-dweller Terrafirma and then two heavyweights in San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.
The E-Painters play the Fuel Masters at 7:30 p.m. without Beau Belga. The 6-foot-5 center has been assessed and cleared for action after a dizzy spell in their last game, but Guiao said they would rest the player for safety reason.
The Fuel Masters, meanwhile, are on a tight spot, with no other option but to start winning if they're to make the post-elims play.
Coach Jamike Jarin's troops are at ninth at 2-5, three wins behind the eighth-running Meralco Bolts at 5-5.
They scored their two wins versus the Bolts and the TNT Tropang 5G and suffered losses to the Dyip, the Converge FiberXers, the Magnolia Hotshots, the Beermen and the Gin Kings.
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After their game against the E-Painters, the Fuel Masters will be up opposite the NLEX Road Warriors, the NorthPort Batang Pier and the Blackwater Bossing.(SB)
