WILL Rain or Shine finally be able to quench its championship thirst?
With a golden opportunity in their hands, the Elasto Painters certainly want to end their four-year title drought as they aim for a sweep the best-of-seven finale of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, with an eye on their second championship as a franchise.
Comfortably ahead, 3-0, over Alaska in the titular showdown and playing like a well-oiled machine, Rain or Shine is in a good position to win it all when it meets the Aces for Game 4 today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in what could be the conference’s last game.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, who is looking for his seventh overall PBA title in his coaching career, laid out all the positives for his team heading to its first opportunity to cop the crown.
“We have one foot ahead now. It’s about mental focus for us now,” said Guiao. “We have all the materials to beat their press and we’ve been generally playing good defense throughout the series. We need to continue executing.”
The fiery mentor added some more factors that his team needs to focus on to clinch the series.
“Keeping the game fast and our consistent defense will be the keys for us this Friday,” he said.
Contrary to a thrilling Game 2, where it needed a buzzer-beating game-winner, Rain or Shine decisively hammered Alaska in the third game Wednesday night and led by over 20 points for most part, before the Aces trimmed down the final tally to 108-112, and the Elasto Painters still the victor.
A 3-0 series lead is definitely a huge advantage, but Guiao and his team are well aware of the fate that Alaska suffered in the last Philippine Cup finals, where it led 3-0, only to bow to San Miguel after a phenomenal and historic fightback.
“San Miguel was down 0-3 in the Philippine Cup finals but still won the championship. That’s what’s on our minds. We can’t have any letdowns.”
While most expected this series to at least be tightly contested, it is not exactly turning out like that as the Aces are nowhere near their efficient selves.
Alaska has been struggling to halt Rain or Shine’s running game and its execution on offense isn’t exactly the most fluid thus far in the series.
The Aces are now staring at a huge hole and must do everything to avoid being swept.
Meanwhile, the Best Player of the Conference and the Best Import of the Conference awards will be handed out prior to Game 4 tonight.
Alaska’s Calvin Abueva is the frontrunner and favorite for the BPC award, while Arinze Onuaku of semifinalist Meralco is the one expected to take the Best Import honor.
Game Today
(Finals, Game 4 – Smart
Araneta Coliseum):
7 p.m. – Alaska vs. Rain or Shine