BY MAKING the necessary adjustments Rain or Shine got amply rewarded in its PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals duel against Converge.
It is now up to the FiberXers to translate their own tinkering into game when they square off with the Elasto Painters anew Sunday in what is expected to be a thriller that will decide their best-of-three quarterfinal matchup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
"Game 3 would be a game of pride, game of grit," said Converge acting coach Franco Atienza on the eve of the match. "Kumbaga, no-tomorrow for both teams so you have to put everything on the line."
"I'm sure by Sunday we need to step up again. Do-or-die game for both teams," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao moments after his team carved out a 114-104 victory last Friday that forced the rubber match.
Guiao credited the win to his team learning from its defensive lapses that led to a sorry 118-130 loss in the series opener just two days prior. "We made some defensive adjustments, matchups namin, 'yung help side namin," he related.
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"We wanted to protect the paint a little bit more, get more rebounds. Du'n kami natalo nu'ng huling laro, eh, dinominate nila 'yung loob. So today we tried to make the adjustments, mabuti na lang umubra" added Guiao.
Indeed, Converge's frontline trio of Cheick Diallo, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar, who combined for 70 points in the opener, had to work extra hard for their points in Game 2 after bearing the brunt of Rain or Shine's defense.
Diallo and Arana had 17 apiece, but only on a combined 15-of-27 shooting which was a far cry from their 22-of-29 clip in Game 1. Worse off was Baltazar, who went a perfect 6-of-6 in Game 1, but only managed a triple on just three field tries in Game 2.
With the trio stifled, the FiberXers were held to a 39-of-88 field shooting which was in stark contrast to their blistering 49-of-87 clip in Game 1. They also wound up Game 2 with 18 assists, 14 short of their total in the opener and nine less than what the E-Painters issued.
"Credit to Rain or Shine, talagang handa sila. Nilaro kami ng pisikal. Tapos 'yung ginawa namin ng Game 1 sila naman ang gumawa. Andami nilang assists," noted Atienza. "Kami naman, parang nag-kanya-kanya kami, siguro dahil sa pressure ng depensa."
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That simply would not do if Converge hopes to realize a first-ever semifinals stint in franchise history.
"Kung ano nag-work sa amin nu'ng Game 1 iyun ang kailangang alalahanin namin, which is execution, sharing the ball, setting up our teammates. Also i-limit yung turnovers. Kailangan din tumibay defense namin."
Specifically cited by Atienza are Rain or Shine import Deon Thompson and Adrian Nocum. Thompson fouled out with still 8:34 left in the third period in Game 1 but played smarter last Friday to wind up with 28 points on top of 18 rebounds and seven assists, both gamehighs.
Nocum also stepped up big-time by also scoring 28 points, including 16 in the fourth frame that boosted the E-Painters from a precarious 85-80 lead after three periods.
"Hindi talaga kakayanin ng iisa, dadalawang tao if you want to beat Rain or Shine," said Atienza. "It has to be a team effort." (NC)
