BEEFY Rain or Shine enforcer Beau Belga reaches in for a shot off Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar in Sunday night’s game won by the Painters. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text, the hottest squads in the PBA Governors’ Cup, battle separate foes which are looking to avoid elimination as the jockeying for playoff rankings heats up Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters, winners of their last three games—including a 51-point blowout of Alaska last week—slug it out with Meralco in the 5:45 p.m. game before the Tropang Texters take the floor at 8 p.m. opposite Barako Bull.
The Bolts and the Energy are both coming off victories to stay in the playoff hunt. But a loss for either squad could prove costly.
Talk ‘N Text is top of the heap with a 5-1 record, and coach Norman Black believes they need to win at least one of their three remaining games to be assured of a twice-to-beat privilege in the quarterfinals.
“But we will be gunning to win all three,” Black said. “We would like to get every little bit of advantage that we can [for the playoffs].”
Rain or Shine is at 4-3 and is just half a game out of second place shared by four teams— Barangay Ginebra, San Mig Coffee, San Miguel Beer and Air21.
Incidentally, the Express and the defending champion Mixers were battling it out at press time with the winner gaining solo second.
Jeff Chan, named by the PBA Press Corps as its Accel-Player of the Week, will again lead the Painters against the struggling Bolts.
Rain or Shine has been very impressive not only because of that 123-72 win over the Aces, but also because of a 117-108 dismantling of Ginebra last Sunday night in Biñan, Laguna.
Chan, Paul Lee and import Arizona Reid were at the forefront of that dominant display of second-half firepower as the Painters set aside the Gin Kings’ huge advantage in size.
With the Painters averaging 120 points in their last two outings, Meralco would have to clamp down on Rain or Shine’s guns.
The Texters will try to stop new Barako Bull import Allen Durham, who debuted Sunday with 32 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists.