MANILA, Philippines—Don’t expect Yeng Guiao to backtrack on his guarantee.
Not even after B-Meg dominated Rain or Shine, 91-81, in Game 5 to pull to within 2-3 in their best-of-seven PBA Finals series.
After making a bold statement that they “would win this series with or without Paul Lee,” Guiao pulled another one up his sleeve.
“Na-delay lang pero sa amin pa rin ito,” he said. “Ganiyan talaga ang buhay.”
Guiao, though, didn’t like how his team was manhandled in the rebounding department.
“We’re back to our perennial problem, which is rebounding,” Guiao pointed out. “In the second half alone we lost 16 rebounds. We just have to work on that. We gave them 24 off rebounds, which means 24 extra possessions, and that’s really hard to survive.”
ROS got out-rebounded, 49-67, despite B-Meg missing the services of energetic big man Marc Pingris due to stiff neck.
He also cited his players’ bad shot selection that disrupted the offense’s rhythm.
“We’re hoping that our percentages get better…I felt we could have gotten better shots.”
The Elasto Painters shot only 36 percent from the field. It also didn’t help that import Jamelle Cornley missed a wide open dunk and Gabe Norwood blew a lay-up as well.
Rain or Shine gets another crack at history on Friday for Game 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.