JERIC Teng of Rain or Shine (left) loses the ball to Jason Castro of Talk ‘N Text during Game 2 of their Finals series on Friday. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
INSPIRED by a breakthrough win, Rain or Shine tries to do something it never came close to doing since 2013: Take control of a series against Talk ‘N Text.
Two nights after weathering a storm that was Jason Castro and winning an old-fashioned endgame shootout, the Painters come into today’s Game 3 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series with the Tropang Texters brimming with confidence at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The tie-breaking duel starts at 5 p.m.
“We said in the last game that what we needed was an icebreaker,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “This (win) is a nice icebreaker. This gives us confidence, it makes us know that we can play with the best.”
The Painters were winless in eight previous series games against the Texters, counting a 92-99 Game 1 loss Wednesday where Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico didn’t look happy even if they won while they weren’t at their best.
On Friday night, the Painters pounded the Texters in the endgame of a crucial match where both were in their elements, and Guiao hopes to ride the momentum of that 116-108 triumph all the way to Rain or Shine’s first title since 2012.
Castro, who has become the favorite in the Best Player of the Conference derby because of swashbuckling performances in these playoffs, couldn’t rescue the Texters in Game 2 despite pumping in a career-high 44 points.
Paul Lee, his chief rival for the prestigious accolade, dropped 14 key points in the fourth quarter as the Painters finally won one after being swept in the 2013 Philippine Cup Finals and the Final Four here last season.
Guiao knows that they can only do so much against Castro if he is in a zone.
“Jason is practically un-guardable,” Guiao said. “What we need to do is work hard on him (on defense) and pray even harder.”
Lee needs to step up the same way he did on Friday—especially at the crunch—just for Rain or Shine to stay in the game and Guiao would need the others to contribute for the finishing kick.
Wayne Chism, the prime Best Import candidate, was also big together with five players also scoring in twin digits for the Painters, including Jireh Ibanes, who had 12 while coming up with several big hustle plays when the game was on the line.
Uichico, for his part, tried simplifying things when asked what went wrong after they blew a 17-point second quarter lead.
“They just made more shots,” the eight-time champion Uichico, who is in his first title series since 2012, said. “We know they are capable of scoring a lot. We didn’t defend them the way we should have.”
Ivan Johnson scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds for the Texters, who also drew a big game from the veteran Ranidel de Ocampo.