E-Painters enter first-ever finals
Like an innocent child, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao was all smiles when he showed up at the post-game interview Wednesday night.
Flanked by team owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que, the usually-volatile Guiao now had a very good reason to beam.
Flashing their fierce form that convinced Guiao that their time is now, the Elasto Painters turned back the B-Meg Llamados, 92-82, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum to make it to the best-of-seven finals of PBA Governors Cup, the first PBA finals stint in franchise history.
Jeff Chan led all scorers with 25 points while import Jamelle Cornley added 16 markers to give Rain or Shine only its second semifinals win but 10th overall in 14 outings, enough to gain its first finals appearance since joining the league in 2006.
“Parang batang maliit kami. Matagal na kaming di nakakarating ng finals,” stressed Guiao, who already has five PBA titles under his belt.
The latest, however, came six years ago after steering Red Bull Barako to the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference crown against Purefoods (now B-Meg) in six games.
“Nothing could be more satisfying than to make the finals,” added Guiao, who will also make his 10th finals appearance. “We have dedicated team owners. Kaya kahit isang maliit na team, naniniwala kami na kaya naming magpakita sa ligang ito. It’s very satisfying for me.”
The historic feat also served as a fitting birthday present gift to Que, who enjoyed a string of championship runs with Yu under the colors of Welcoat Paints in the now-defunct PBL.
“Last All-Filipino, we tried to get to the finals but we lost in Game 7. Maybe that’s what motivated the players today and it’s my best friend's birthday,” noted Yu of Que. “We had six championships in the PBL but that was a long, long time ago. Kaya excited kami (to return to the finals).”
Do-it-all reinforcement Marqus Blakely had 18 points while ace guard James Yap struggled for 12 markers and Jonas Villanueva 11 for the Llamados, who finished the carryover semis with a 9-5 record.
All is not lost for B-Meg, however, as it takes on the winner between Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text in a knockout game for the second and finals berth on Friday.
“We just probably got them on their bad night. Natsambahan namin sila dahil medyo off sila ngayon,” stressed Guiao.
Two canned charities by Chan off a PJ Simon foul gave the Painters their biggest lead at 74-51 at the 2:07 mark in the third canto but the Llamados, as expected, came charging back in the fourth.
Even Que became anxious of the Llamados’ late-game charge, saying: “Nung dumidikit, parang ayoko nang manood.”
A strong drive by Blakely whittled down the deficit to just 82-88 with 55 seconds left but that proved to be their last gasp as Yap failed to come up big this time, leaving Paul Lee and Beau Belga to ice the game for the Painters.
The Painters initially posted their big spread midway in the second at 48-31 then B-Meg coach Tim Cone, in his old-school trick, woke up the Llamados by incurring a technical foul.
That served as a turning point in the first half as the Llamados scored 11 of the next 12 points to trim their deficit at 41-49 heading into their dug-out.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Chan 25, Cornley 16, Buenafe 11, Cruz 9, Lee 8, Norwood 7, Belga 7, Quinahan 7, Ibanes 2, Tang 0, Arana 0.
B-MEG 82 – Blakely 18, Yap 12, Villanueva 11, Barroca 10, Simon 9, Pingris 8, De Ocampo 6, Gaco 4, Reavis 4, Urbiztondo 0.
Quarters: 23-20, 49-41, 74-58, 92-82
