RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao was among the first to point out the changing competition landscape in the PBA Philippine Cup, at least in the tournament's early stages. He even reiterated his personal observations last week.
"The teams that are not really expected to play as well are playing really good, really well this conference," said Guiao following his team's hard-earned 110-103 win over Blackwater, one of the teams usually at the bottom but now making waves.
"Next game namin Terrafirma, ang ganda rin ng inilalaro. After that NorthPort, grabe. Parang kalaban mo rin 'yung malalakas na teams."
Main reason why Guiao wants his Elasto Painters to crank up their game even more to hurdle the Dyip and stretch their winning run Saturday at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Terrafirma is currently at fourth-running spot with an even 4-4 record and badly needs a win to not only bounce back from a 110-113 heartbreaker to San Miguel Beer last Wednesday but also move closer to securing a rare quarterfinals slot.
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The sense of urgency is even keener for Guiao and his side, notwithstanding their three-game winning streak following a 0-4 start. The surge fanned hopes Rain or Shine would again string together more wins to advance, much like when it went on a six-game roll after starting 0-5 in the last Commissioner's Cup.
Guiao was quick to temper expectations. "Slightly mas malalim ang hukay na napasok namin last conference, 0-5 'yun.... Pero konti lang," was how he started his lengthy reasoning.
"Ang problema, 'yung mga teams na inaasahan mo na nasa ibaba, nasa itaas ngayon, eh. So iyun ang magpapahirap sa amin ngayon. Those teams na underrated are now playing well. So it's even more difficult to get out of that hole," added Guiao.
"Huwag na nating sabihin 'yung mga regular na talagang malalakas na teams, although karamihan nakalaban na namin. Magnolia hindi pa namin nakakalaban pero iyung ibang mabibigat na teams nakalaban na namin, added Guiao.
"So wala pa ito, wala pa kaming na-a-achieve, dahil marami pa kaming dadaanan."
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What should make Rain or Shine's task even harder is the fact Terrafirma has the height advantage in Isaac Go, Kemark Carino and Mark Sangalang and also has the speed and quickness that could neutralize the E-Painters' preferred fast-paced game. (NC)
