Moments after surviving TNT in a grueling three-game quarterfinal series, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao had already declared his young Elasto Painters team as winners in their best-of-seven semifinals showdown with the mighty San Miguel Beermen.
“Ang sinasabi ko lang sa kanila, this is going to be a toughness test,” said Guiao shortly after the Elasto Painters escaped with a 110-109 win over the Tropang Giga on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“We will see how tough we are in this situation. We will know our real character. Malalaman mo kung ‘are we a thinking team’? Are we something na kapag dikdikan na, mawawala ka na? Bata pa itong mga ito pero marunong nang lumaban. Yung ang sa akin mas importante. Imagine if they get a little bit more experienced. Itong semis namin na ito, this is going to be our real test in experience, kalaban mo pa San Miguel. Kahit anong mangyari, panalo na kami rito.”
This means that the Elasto Painters will play as if they have nothing to lose, but they want to continue to wield the upset ax in hope of slaying another giant team in the Beermen at the start of their best-of-seven semifinals series on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena beginning 4:30 p.m.
Rain or Shine’s semis stint is the first for the franchise since Guiao returned as coach midway last season.
Under his tutelage, Guiao led the team to winning two championships and a remarkable string of playoff appearances.
In 15 conferences, the fiery mentor was able to lead his team to the playoffs 13 times, which included four finals runs, six semifinals appearances and a quarterfinals stint on top of two championships from 2011-2012 season to 2016.
Now the Elasto Painters start a dawn of a new era under the franchise’s most successful coach.
The Elasto Painters passed the initial test in the playoffs capped by a hard-earned victory in Game 3, which saw the team displaying its balance firepower anew.
Six players wound up in double figures for Rain or Shine led by Gian Mamuyac, who had an explosive 25-point output.
Jhonard Clarito had another solid showing following a breakout performance last time around as he fell a rebound away from posting a double-double in the series-clinching victory Wednesday. He posted numbers of 17 points and nine boards while Leonard Santillan contributed 15 markers.
Adrian Nocum and Keith Datu each produced 11 points apiece and Shaun Ildefonso came away with 10 markers for the Elasto Painters, who squandered a 20-point lead (75-55) posted late in the third and found themselves teetering on the brink of defeat in the closing stage of the match.
Had it not been for Gabe Norwood’s insurance two free throws in the last four seconds, the Tropang Giga, behind a last-minute scoring spree from Kelly Williams, would have completed a come-from-behind win.
“My hats off to Coach Chot (Reyes) and the TNT franchise. Akala ko nakabaon na sila eh. Pero bumangon sila sa hukay. Ang galing talaga nila.”
