PBA IMAGES
No one from the Rain or Shine camp expected a sweep against a tough Ginebra side in their best-of-three quarterfinals series.
What the team expected, though, was a stronger start in Game 2 to avoid falling behind big again, just like what happened in Game 1.
“Even us, we didn’t expect it to be a sweep,” said JR Quiñahan. “We just told each other to focus on the game. We can’t get caught up with what happened in Game 1 where we trailed big early. But we were able to bring our focus and just like what coach said, we’ll get it.”
That emerged as the biggest difference for the Elasto Painters as they took control early en route to a 102-89 victory on Tuesday to advance in the 2016 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Quiñahan continued his magnificent run this season, racking seven of his 21 points in the payoff period and had five rebounds as the Painters joined the Meralco Bolts in the Final Four.
The hefty big man said Rain or Shine’s success is attributed to coach Yeng Guiao’s endless drive to win.
“Wala namang special, same routine lang. Gusto lang kasi ni coach na maging consistent kami na bumalik sa semifinals,” he said. “Nagpapasalamat kami at nakuha rin namin ngayon kasi mahirap na rin pag natalo pa kami at dumating pa sa Game 3. Alam naman natin na crowd favorite yung Ginebra kaya baka magka-momentum pa sila.”
And regardless which team Rain or Shine gets to meet in the semifinals, Quiñahan said the Painters will be ready.
“Kung San Miguel, paghahandaan na naman namin si June Mar (Fajardo) at yung import nila na magaling, si (Tyler) Wilkerson. Pag Star naman, takbuhan naman kami,” he said. “Bahala na kung sinong magaling sa adjustment and preparation. Basta kami, ibibigay namin yung best namin.”