THE mutual respect of Rain or Shine and Alaska has always been there. But after their very competitive Commissioner’s Cup finals showdown which the Elasto Painters won in six games to take the championship, that respect even grew.
With Rain or Shine well on its way to winning Game 6, the series and the championship last Wednesday night with over a minute left in the clincher, Alaska team owner Wilfred Uytengsu, in a sportsmanlike gesture, came over to Painters’ owners Terry Que and Raymond Yu to personally shake their hands and congratulate them for the title conquest.
Following this, the Painters returned the favor as the entire team couldn’t help but express their appreciation for Alaska, not only for the tough fight it put up in the finals but more importantly, for it being a premier organization in the PBA.
“He (Uytengsu) went to us and told us to enjoy the championship. It was a really good gesture on his part,” said co-owner Raymond Yu in his championship speech.
Yu went on to share that the satisfaction of beating a top-notch ball club like Alaska is second-to-none for Rain or Shine.
“Alaska is an institution in the league. They’re ranked up there with the San Miguel teams and they’ve been in the league for so long. For us, to have beaten them in a championship series really humbled us,” added Yu.
Outspoken Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao echoed the sentiments of his team owner and admitted how tough the championship series was for Rain or Shine, thanks to Alaska’s grittiness.
“Alaska is a great organization. Napakagaling nila. Hirap na hirap kami talaga sa kanila and I even had doubts if kakayanin namin and I’m glad we did,” said Guiao.
He also had a bold prediction moving forward. Guiao thinks that the recently concluded Commissioner’s Cup showdown won’t be the last time that the Elasto Painters and the Aces will meet in a finals’ war.
“They’re a really great organization and we’ll see them in the finals again I’m sure,” said Guiao.
Complimenting its worthy runner-up in the recent conference even more, Rain or Shine governor Mert Mondragon shared that Alaska is a franchise that the Elasto Painters are looking up to.
“Itong Alaska ay isa sa mga teams na aming tinitingala dito sa PBA,” said Mondragon. “Nirerespeto namin sila not only because of the exceptional talent and skills of their players, but also because of the quality of basketball that they bring to the league.”
Though the Aces are currently dealing with yet another heartbreaking second-place finish, their fourth in the last five conferences, these uplifting words from their conquerors might be good enough to keep their heads up high.