Rain or Shine, B-Meg clash for finals slot

JAPETH Aguilar, Talk ‘N Text’s athletic beanpole, slams the ball in a recent game against Meralco. Aguilar and the Tropang Texters fight for life against the Barangay Ginebra Kings today. August dela Cruz

Rain or Shine and B-Meg clash for the first finals slot in the PBA Governors’ Cup with the Elasto Painters trying to end a two-game slump and wrap up what had been conceded them weeks ago at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Game time is 5:15 p.m. with the Llamados installed as the slight picks mainly because the Painters, who topped the eliminations running away, have won just one of their first four semifinal games.

After looking as sure bets for a first-ever title series stint, the Painters have suddenly found themselves on very shaky ground.

Tied with the Llamados for top spot at 9-4, the Painters have not played consistently in the semifinals and will be coming off a stinging 90-98 loss to Talk ‘N Text less than 48 hours ago.

The loser will not actually get the boot outright, however, and will get another title shot against the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Talk ‘N Text game set later at 7:30 p.m.

The survivor of the Gin Kings-Tropang Texters duel will battle the loser of the B-Meg-Rain or Shine duel this Friday.

The Llamados are looking to win a second straight title, and unless the Painters rediscover the form they showed in the eliminations, B-Meg will get halfway there after tonight.

Marcus Blakely, James Yap and Marc Pingris will be the main cogs for the Llamados, and import Jamelle Cornley must churn out fantastic numbers to be able to carry Rain or Shine.

Super rookie Paul Lee has been the most consistent local for the Painters, and it was quite odd that the ball was kept out of his hands in the dying minutes against the Texters.

Cornley made at least two critical errors in that span, with one play seeing the usually reliable import dribbling the ball off his foot.

Ginebra saw a halt to its three-game streak in the semifinals last Sunday when the Llamados shut down leading MVP candidate Mark Caguioa to just three points.

Paul Harris has been nothing short of fantastic for the Texters, and Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen must be able to find ways of limiting Harris for the Kings to have a chance.