GLOBALPORT’S Sol Mercado (right) loses the ball as he bumps into Rain or Shine import Arizona Reid during their recent match. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Rain or Shine guns for a third straight win today with a complete lineup against rock-solid Petron Blaze in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With national players Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan back in harness, the Elasto Painters have a complete roster against the dangerous Boosters in the 7:30 p.m. main game.
Norwood and Chan missed the first game to rest after the Fiba Asia campaign and played just a combined 23 minutes in a one-sided victory over Globalport on Saturday. Against the Boosters, they need to be at their best to keep the Painters in the lead.
Reigning Commissioner’s Cup champion Alaska finally gets going against Globalport in the 5:15 p.m. game.
Alaska, no doubt, has the advantage in manpower, with import Wendell McKines but the Batang Pier are no pushovers as they try to equal a franchise-best 2-1 start.
Arizona Reid has been impressive in his first two games with the Painters, and he could find a more comfortable zone to operate inside since Chan, and sophomore Paul Lee, could open up the shaded lane for him with their outside shots.
Lee is the best local for Guiao after two games, averaging 13.5 points and plucking down six rebounds in their first two victories.
Elijah Millsap, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and former Gilas stalwarts Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter are the prime offensive guns for the Boosters, whose new coach, Gee Abanilla, will be going head-to-head with former mentor and close friend Guiao.
McKines packs impressive NBA D-League credentials and has been working with Alaska for more than a month now.
Rookie Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio and point guard JV Casio will complete the starting five of the Aces, whose Commissioner’s Cup triumph was the fruit of a bold move by management when it dealt away LA Tenorio to Barangay Ginebra.
Gary David is expected to be back in tip-top shape after serving the national team in the 27th Fiba Asia Championship two weeks ago.
Markeight Cummings and Jay Washington will have their hands full with the inside game of the Aces anchored on Thoss and the bull-strong McKines.