Rain or Shine tries to stay in the upper half of the PBA Governors’ Cup standings tonight when the Elasto Painters tackle a Talk ‘N Text side that’s also desperate for a win at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
With a 4-4 card and already assured of a quarterfinal slot, the Painters are eyeing a win that would land them a twice-to-beat advantage, the bonus accorded to the top four teams.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. with the Tropang Texters, in danger of elimination for the first time in years, breaking in a new import in former North Carolina mainstay Courtney Fells.
Fells could be the only advantage the Texters will have since the Painters have only seen the new TNT reinforcement in old tapes in college and in leagues in Europe.
“We don’t know much about the (new) TNT import other than he’s a scorer,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “But we know we can defend (against) a wing player.”
Rain or Shine will also be coming into the game still reeling from a 100-101 loss to Barangay Ginebra last Saturday, when Mac Baracael was fouled for three free throws in the final three-tenths of a second.
With a Rain or Shine official failing to make it to the league offices on time to file a game protest, the team had no other recourse but to accept the loss.
“We did not let it (loss) get us down, actually we’re using it as additional motivation,” Guiao said. “In our hearts, we still feel there was no foul.”
A win would enable the Painters to stay in fourth spot, which is actually what Barako Bull will also be looking for in its 5:15 p.m. clash with another struggling powerhouse, Alaska.
If both Rain or Shine and Barako Bull win, they will be assured of at least a playoff for No. 4—and the last twice-to-beat bonus—with only Ginebra capable of catching them.