FOR Rain or Shine, it's about starting off the pre-season on a bright note. For NLEX, it's about getting on track after a losing opener.
With such motivation, the Elasto Painters and the Road Warriors collide in the PBA On Tour, presented by Arena Plus and sponsored by Bingo Plus, Friday night in an explosive main game of a double-header at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Yeng Guiao's E-Painters look for a good foundation for the new season at the expense of his former team after finishing third to the last in the Season 47 Governors' Cup with only two wins.
Guiao has lined up essentially the same youth-oriented cast led by Gian Mamuyac, Anton Asistio, Shaun Ildefonso, Andrei Caracut and Santi Santillan with Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga and Rey Nambatac providing experience.
ROS also listed Mac Belo, whom it acquired from Meralco in exchange for Norbert Torres, but the former FEU star's participation depends on how soon they can agree to a contract.
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Frankie Lim's Road Warriors, for their part, are on a bounceback mission coming off their 88-93 setback to Blackwater in the pre-season kickoff last Sunday in Caloocan.
NLEX found itself outperformed by the Bossing in rebounding, 49-51, transition points, 24-10, and three-point conversions, 10-7.
Sean Anthony, 37, banged in 18 points and eight rebounds to show the way for an NLEX side that missed Gilas Pilipinas standout Brandon Rosser and utilized new players, including Cavitex 3x3 stalwarts Dominic Fajardo and Tzaddy Rangel as well as the comebacking Bong Galanza.
ROS and NLEX hit the court at 7:30 p.m. after the curtain-raiser between PBA on Tour debutants Converge and Terrafirma. (OL)
