Rain or Shine catches wind as it sails into quarterfinals

Rain or Shine import Demetrius Treadwell against TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

What doomed campaign?

Rain or Shine has found its second wind and has crashed the quarterfinals party in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. And after building a head of steam with a 119-112 triumph over TNT on Friday night, the Elastopainters, naturally, want more.

“We will take our last game seriously. We want to get all the wins that we can string up. And also, we want to take off on the right foot going into the quarterfinals—with a win,” coach Yeng Guiao said on the heels of a hotly contested affair last Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine dropped its first five games to open the season and then went on a five-game tear that included a stunning victory over then-unbeaten Magnolia.

Guiao and his charges were the seventh club to clinch a spot in the knockout phase of the import-laden conference. And while he was pleased to see his crew right the ship just in time before the elimination round ended, the seasoned mentor knows that they are not out of the woods just yet.

“Of course, we’re glad. But I think what matters now is that we’ve made it to the playoffs,” he said.

“It’s nice for us to learn how to win in a game where neither side is willing to budge until the end,” he added. “We’re a young team and we need games like these to toughen us up.”

Going through that clash could truly be a transformative experience for the Elastopainters. A bevy of young players like Andrei Caracut and Santi Santillan are gaining their confidence, while a veteran in Rey Nambatac is rediscovering his just before the cutthroat stages.

“These are all preparation for the tougher games ahead,” Guiao said.

The Top 4 teams of the race have yet to be identified, but the 9-1 Hotshots have an inside track of taking one of those coveted spots that will enjoy twice-to-beat protection in the playoffs. Phoenix, Meralco, San Miguel, defending champion Barangay Ginebra and even NorthPort are all jockeying for the other three spots, which means any of those tough squads could end up Rain or Shine’s playoffs assignment.

Added burden

That perhaps explains why Guiao is not too keen on fixating on his team’s five-game winning streak.

“We don’t want to put pressure on ourselves with the win streak. That’s just extra [burden] if you think about it,” he said.“We’re just going to prepare so that we’re still able to turn in a good performance in the quarterfinals,” he added.

Meanwhile, league chief Willie Marcial said that he has yet to study the tape of Friday night’s contest, where Guiao and injured TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson figured in a verbal match.

“I’ve yet to review the tape,” the commissioner told the Inquirer in a phone call from Iloilo City, where Magnolia was set to play Meralco.

“After that, I’m [going] to hear out the recommendations of our technical committee,” he added.