RAIN or Shine aims to pick up from where it left off when it squares off with an NLEX squad that is on the skids Friday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
Buoyed up by a breakthrough 115-110 win over Blackwater last Saturday, the Elasto Painters are targeting a second straight win that would enable them to catch the Road Warriors at 2-5 and continue fanning their hopes of catching the playoffs bus reserved for the top eight teams.
Game time is 4 p.m.
"We're just trying to keep our chances alive," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao on the eve of the match. "We felt a big sigh of relief after our first win."
Guiao added that his locals would continue playing well and supplement the fine showing of Demetrius (Tree) Treadwell who gives the inside presence the E-Painters have lacked before.
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"We're also trying to fit in our import and take full advantage of his skillset," stated Guiao. "I'm very happy with our locals and hopefully they can complement our import with balanced scoring."
For its part, NLEX has lost two straight that dropped it to a 2-4 record. But rather than be depressed by its 94-97 loss to Meralco last Sunday, coach Frankie Lim's side should take heart from it.
Against the Bolts, the Road Warriors refused to wilt despite a 34-point first half and as much as a 48-77 deficit, finally knotting the count at 94-all before being done in by a Chris Banchero floater and a botched inbound play, both inside the last 2.8 seconds of play.
Most notable performers for the Road Warriors in that game were Don Trollano, who netted 24 points and six assists after scoring just five points the game before, and Stokley Chaffee (24 points and eight boards).
Rain or Shine's arsenal should be even more stocked should Gian Mamuyac, Beau Belga and Keith Datu return from sick bay and help out the likes of Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan, Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum.
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And then there's Treadwell. Although averaging only 11 points, but also 16.5 rebounds as well as 6.0 assists, a steal and a block in his first two games, the 6-foot-7 banger should continue reinforcing the E-Painters' frontline that original import Dajuan Summers failed to do.
"Most of the games na natalo kami kulang kami talaga sa rebounding saka inside presence," Guiao has previously pointed out. "Si Tree naman we know that he is not as prolific a scorer as the other imports, but he can be that defensive presence that we need. Also, he's providing the rebounds that we need."
For Guiao, a second straight win would work wonders for his team. "Putting together a winning streak will go a long way in lifting the team's morale," he said. (NC)
