Losing its last game in the elimination round isn’t a reflection of what Rain or Shine has achieved collectively ahead of the playoffs.
Veteran Gabe Norwood, now playing a much bigger role as an assistant playing coach for the squad, is confident that the Elasto Painters deserve to be the No.1 team in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup and they are eager to play like one once the playoff starts.
The Elasto Painters will take on the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots at the start of their best-of-five quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, and although Rain or Shine ended its elimination round campaign with a 118-139 loss to Blackwater, Norwood feels upbeat about the team’s chances.
“I’d like to say we’re just ready as any number 1 seed could be,” said Norwood. “I think I would take the same amount of pride in our accomplishments no matter the role would be.”
Norwood is one of only two remaining players of two-time champion team Rain or Shine along with Beau Belga. Last season, the Elasto Painters reached the playoffs for the first time since being reunited with long-time mentor Yeng Guiao and now the holdovers are looking to make a deep run to the playoffs with this new bunch of young players with them.
The many-time national team member is confident they have a good a balance of experienced and young players who all embraced the philosophy of the squad as proof of the display of firepower the Elasto Painters had shown the entire elimination round.
Norwood’s teammate, Keith Datu, expressed high optimism on the team’s chances.
“We are eyeing the prize,” wrote Datu via Messenger.
