Rain or Shine overcomes monster game from Fajardo to lead 3-1 against Petron
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters showed eactly why their team was built that way. Without Paul Lee and wittout head coach Yeng Guiao for the latter part of the game, Rain or Shine still managed an 88-83 victory over the Petron Blaze Boosters, Monday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. They now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead in the semifinals of the 2014 PLDT myDSL Philippine Cup.
Ryan Arana the shifty guard who drives to the hoop and makes unbelievable layups led the Elasto Painters in scoring with 12 points in the game. Jeff Chan and Jireh Ibanes both chipped in 11 while Gabe Norwood added 10. Other than these players, five other Elasto Painters scored more six points or more to further validate their mantra of relying on every single player to win the game.
Lee, Rain or Shine’s main point guard was sidelined with an injured ankle in the second quarter while Guiao was thrown out for the second straight game but Rain or Shine fought on. They watched as Petron’s June Mar Fajardo single-handedly carried the fight for the Boosters but even his 27-point, 17-rebound performance was not enough to counter Rain or Shine’s balanced attack.
The game started as a fire fight between both teams as they tried to grab the momentum early on. Rain or Shine sizzled from deep to take a 33-28 first quarter lead but they slowed the game down considerably in the next three quarters because they knew Petron had more weapons on offense.
The Main Man: He was ejected again for his extra-curricular activities but this game was all about the identity that ROS head coach Yeng Guiao wanted for his squad since day 1. The Pampanga Congressman knows how to get the best from his players, he knows that all of his guys will kill themselves on the floor for him, and best of all he trusts them enough to do what they have to do to win the game.
Guiao knew he was going to be thrown out. But it was a calculated risk he was willing to take. He had complete trust in assistant coach Caloy Garcia and he knew that his departure would be his final statement for the calls his players didn’t get. In the end, it all worked out.
Honorable Mentions: Arana is perhaps one of the most under appreciated players in the PBA. He does a little bit of everything for his team. He’s a good ball handler, an above-average shooter, and a fearless attacker. He also does not shy away from physical contact.
Arana is one of the best examples of players flourishing under Guiao’s system along with Ibanes. The two of them could find it difficult to get playing time with squads like Petron, Talk ‘N Text, San Mig Super Coffee, or Ginebra but they are important pieces of the puzzle in Rain or Shine.
Game Turning Point: This game turned when Fajardo ran low on gas. The Petron big man tried with all his might to keep his team in the game. His and-1 knotted the game at 82-all and gave the Boosters a fighting shot at tying the series but by then he was already running on fumes. The Rain or Shine defense clamped down on Fajardo in the final minutes, daring anyone else to score. The rest of the Boosters failed to respond as they only scored a single point from then on.
He said it:
Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao: The guys just did not give up. They won this game on their own. I have nothing to do with this victory. They lost Paul, they lost me, but they kept their fighting hearts with them. We beat them against the odds. I though there were a lot of bad calls. Any team made of softer material would have folded up. This is a testimony to the character of the guys. I take my hat off to coach Caloy for not giving up where I gave up.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 88 - Arana 12, Chan 11, Ibanes 11, Norwood 10, Cruz 8, Rodriguez 8, Quinahan 7, Lee 7, Nuyles 6, Belga 3, Tang 3, Almazan 2, Tiu 0.
PETRON 83 - Fajardo 27, Santos 14, Lutz 13, Lassiter 10, Ross 9, Tubid 5, Cabagnot 5, Duncil 0, Taha 0, Kramer 0, Hubalde 0, Deutchman 0.
Quarter scores: 33-28, 48-50, 72-69, 88-83
