RAIN or Shine and Alaska are eager to put all their struggles behind them and inject life into their flagging bids when they tangle Sunday in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters have lost three straight while the Aces are still winless after five games, but both are still within sight of five victories that should be enough to gain passage to the quarterfinals so expect both to give it all they've got.
"Alaska is hungry for a win and we are in a must-win situation," was how coach Caloy Garcia, whose Rain or Shine crew is just a rung above the cellar-dwelling Aces, summed up the importance of the match.
The E-Painters would not have been in such a tight situation if not for their last two defeats, both heartbreakers.
First, Garcia's charges failed to score in the last 2:14 of the game and lost a 68-69 squeaker to defending champion Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok last Oct. 4.
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Five days later, Rain or Shine bowed to Phoenix Pulse 84-86 following a last-second mini alley-oop hookup between Eugene Phelps and RR Garcia.
"We just have to find ways to close games out," stressed Garcia. "Our last two games were lost by one possession."
Alaska is in a more dire situation, but coach Jeffrey Cariaso believes his team is ready to turn the corner following a 90-95 loss to Magnolia last Sunday which he termed as a "positive step forward."
"Are we worried? Yes, of course. But again, have we played the right way? Have we improved from the last game? Yes also. So you have to take the positive out of what happened tonight," said Cariaso following the Hotshots game.
"If we continue staying disciplined, we continue staying together no matter what happens then I think susunod na 'yung wins. So this was a positive step forward for us," added Cariaso.
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What should make Alaska more positive is the fact Jeron Teng is set to finally see action in the conference following a hamstring injury, shortening the Aces' IL list to Kevin Racal, Maverick Ahanmisi and Noy Baclao.
Import Franko House, who replaced the injured Justin Watts, has also shown marked improvement from his eight-point, 11-rebound debut in a 75-101 loss to Meralco by notching 20 and 13 against Magnolia.
Kayel Locke, House's one-time teammate in the Dutch league, has also seemingly adjusted to the PBA and his new team, notching 29 points, 10 rebounds and just one turnover against the Fuel Masters after debuting with just 13 points, nine boards and seven miscues.
Still, Garcia insists collective all-around effort and not being lured into panic mode once Alaska pressures should prove vital.
"We just have to play our game," said Garcia. (NC)
