E-Painters shoot for 2-0 series lead

Alaska Aces vs Rain or Shine Elastopainters. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Yeng Guiao has been wrong about his team for most of the Oppo-PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

He was wrong in telling his Rain or Shine players that they would win just one game against San Miguel Beer in the Final Four when they trailed by 19 points in the first half of Game 1.

He was wrong when he held out for so long in getting a replacement for the undersized Mo Charlo, until Pierre Henderson-Niles came along and became the answer to all of the Elasto Painters’ problems in the middle.

And when Guiao and his Painters shoot for a 2-0 lead over Alaska in the best-of-seven series for the season’s second jewel today, the firebrand coach hopes to be wrong on what he thinks the rest of the series will be.

“It will be tougher, a lot tougher than this [Game 1 win],” Guiao said on Wednesday night after a 105-97 victory over the Aces, gutted out only in the final minute when Paul Lee hit a triple that took the sting out of Alaska. “But I hope I’m wrong.”

Rain or Shine tries to move closer toward a first title since 2012 after the 5 p.m. game at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, with the Painters having the momentum they need to post a commanding lead over an Alaska side that is missing two key men.

Alaska is a tough customer for anyone because of its pressing defense.

The Aces bounced back from an early 14-point deficit to even take the lead in the fourth period, only for the Painters to pounce on their every mistake in the stretch and eventually make them pay.

“We hope to be able to continue to break their press,” Guiao said.

The Aces, without Vic Manuel and JV Casio, cannot afford to lose this one again and be in such a deep hole against a team that has so much depth.

“We need to be smarter next time,” Alaska’s Alex Compton said. “We made a bunch of mistakes down the stretch, gave up a ton of points because of our breakdowns. That’s why Rain or Shine is really good, you make a mistake and they make you pay.”

Rob Dozier carved out his career-game that night: 41 points on 18-of-22 shooting. “His field goal percentage was better than our free throws,” Compton would later say.

But Alaska was doomed because local support was lacking, with Calvin Abueva having an off-night with just nine points.

Rain or Shine, on the other hand, plugged all the offensive shortcomings of Henderson-Niles by getting a conference-best 20 points from the comebacking Lee, with Jericho Cruz shooting 18 and Beau Belga 15.