Rain or Shine to bank on locals’ chemistry in crucial stretch

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Chemistry has been the biggest edge for Rain or Shine in the past few years.

But the Elasto Painters experienced what it felt like to struggle without it with Dior Lowhorn in tow this 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.

Even coach Yeng Guiao didn’t sugarcoat things, saying, “Di talaga namin nakuha ang chemistry namin with Dior.”

READ: RoS halts Mahindra

Rain or Shine decided to let Lowhorn go and bring in another returning reinforcement in Jason Forte.

But with Forte arriving early Thursday morning and the team facing off against Mahindra on Friday, Guiao had to rely on his Filipino core who carried the Elasto Painters to a 103-88 victory.

“Mas maganda laro namin na all-Filipino,” he said. “It’s just the familiarity of the guys to the system, their cohesion, their chemistry. It’s all there.”

Bruiser Beau Belga agreed with his mentor.

READ: Virtually all-Filipino Rain or Shine surges past Mahindra

“Kay Dior, more on hinahanap namin sya at nawawalan ng option sa local. Ngayon, mas lalaro tayo ng local. Ayun nga, maganda ang pasahan at ikot ng bola namin. Alam namin kung paano kami maglaro,” he said.

With Forte playing minimal minutes, the locals stepped up big with Belga leading the charge with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to pull Rain or Shine at 4-4.

Regardless if Rain or Shine has an import or not, Belga believes it’s not going to be problem for the Elasto Painters as they already know the nuances of each other after years of playing together.

“Yung locals naman, matagal na kami magkakasama at ilan lang ang bago sa amin. Kilala na namin ang isa’t isa,” he said. “Kinailangan lang talaga naming manalo kasi medyo nanganganib kami ma-out this conference. It’s time na mag-step up at magsama-sama kami. Tried and tested naman ang team namin. Kahit nag-struggle kami, darating ang time na gagaling din kami. Di naman ako kinakabahan na ma-out kami.”

Despite the turn of events this conference, Guiao is confident that Rain or Shine can still give its opponents a run for their money.

“We have to jell in an import whether we like it or not. We have Forte have right now and that’s the challenge for us, to jell him as soon as we can,” the fiery mentor said. “Pero sa totoo lang, mas maganda pa talaga ang laro namin pag all-Filipino.”

Belga, though, is optimistic that Forte can fill that gap for the Elasto Painters.

“Sa sarili ko, kaya naman namin. Jason is good naman para sa akin,” he said.