RAIN OR SHINE’S Beau Belga (left) barrels into B-Meg import Marcus Blakely. The two teams clash today in another expectedly physical encounter. August dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines—With a non-traditional team one of the protagonists, the championship pairing for the PBA Governors’ Cup undoubtedly lacked the box-office appeal present in previous title series.
Leave it to an upset victory by Rain or Shine in the series-opener for color to develop and fireworks to explode all over, including some that might just be lit at the Smart Araneta Coliseum floor.
“He should stop making excuses and take it (Game 1 loss) like a man,” Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao fired at B-Meg’s Tim Con Tuesday after wrapping up preparations for the second game of the best-of-seven series at the Big Dome.
“I think it is very awkward on his part to ask the help of the referees, and for him to issue veiled threats saying that things could go out of hand (in Game 2),” Guiao continued while reiterating that his Elasto Painters will not back down in the 6:45 p.m. game.
“I just think it’s a sad commentary, especially since the league itself saw that there was nothing wrong in the way the referees handled (Game 1) officiating,” he said.
The Painters gun for a huge 2-0 lead today, with Guiao practically baring his game plan as he said that they would approach the match not at all different from the way they played in a 91-80 upset of the Llamados on Sunday.
“I think we did everything fine,” he said. “We were just a little uneasy at the start because this is the first time for my players to be in the Finals. We will not change anything and we will just focus on the game.”
Cone, the multititled, Grand Slam-winning coach, totally lost his cool in the fourth quarter on Sunday when he threw a chair into the floor and was promptly ejected. He later on said that things could be ugly if “the referees don’t help us out.”
And because of that outburst, Cone drew a total fine of P23,400, with P20,000 for the chair-throwing incident and the rest for incurring his fourth technical foul of the conference.
The Big Dome management has also billed Cone P15,000 in damages.
The Office of the Commissioner on Monday also belied his claims that Rain or Shine played beyond physical.
“His protestations were not valid,” said Guiao of Cone, whom he is facing in a title series for the first time in their long careers. “And I think the league understands that and it knows not to be influenced by his comments.”
Meanwhile, the Best Player of the Conference award will be handed out before tip-off, with Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra, James Yap of B-Meg and Gary David of Powerade the prime bets.