Painters underdogs but unfazed

YENG Guiao describes his Rain or Shine crew as a team filled with “loose change.”

But that’s good enough for the fiery drillmaster who is not a bit worried that his Elasto Painters are the underdogs when they battle the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup title series at 6:45 p.m. tomorrow at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Guiao pointed out that his Painters were also the underdogs in their quarterfinal series with Barangay Ginebra, and definitely against San Mig Coffee in the Final Four.

“We’re even more terrible underdogs in this one,” Guiao said during the press launch of the best-of-seven Finals yesterday at Araneta Gateway Suites. “We want to be the underdogs. They have six championships, we have one. And that’s fine.

“They (Tropang Texters) have more talent, pero kami barya-barya lang (but our players are considered loose change),” he added. “We have no superstars, but we play with a system, and that’s enough (for me).”

The Painters are the emerging powers of the league after making it to their second straight Finals appearance, while the Tropang Texters will be shooting to win for the third straight season and become the first team in 30 years to do so.

Norman Black of Talk ‘N Text, though, doesn’t care about preseries labels.

“If we’re the favorites, then so be it. We still have to beat them four times,” said the Grand Slam-winning coach with San Miguel Beer in 1989. “The goal is still to get four wins. If it goes seven (games), then it goes seven.”

Both squads are the deepest in the league, but Talk ‘N Text is made up of stars while Rain or Shine boasts personnel still wanting to carve their names in the league.