Jhonard Clarito (center) typifies the grit of Rain or Shine by battling it out against two Road Warriors. —PHOTOS BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Rain or Shine once again takes pride in being the lone independent team standing in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs, as the Elasto Painters remain armed with the chance of spoiling the ongoing championship stranglehold of those under the banner of San Miguel Corporation and MVP Group.
Coach Yeng Guiao and the Elasto Painters are again set to face the TNT Tropang 5G in the semifinals, hoping that the third time’s the charm behind a brand of play that now has a marketable name.
“We just have to play our game or our brand of game which we call ‘Buwis-buhay basketball,’” Guiao said.
The type of play that embraces grit and effort is something Rain or Shine will try to lean upon, in good times or bad, as seen throughout the all-Filipino eliminations and in the quarterfinals, where the Elasto Painters defied the odds and defeated the NLEX Road Warriors despite their twice-to-beat advantage.
And like in past Guiao teams, this Rain or Shine batch will be banking on hardworking names—and no-names—in trying to spoil TNT’s latest step towards completing a historic Grand Slam.
Game 1 is set for Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena, as they actually get the semis rolling before the sibling showdown of San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.
Both series are best-of-seven affairs, with games also slated at Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“If something goes wrong and you can’t get your rhythm, just put in your effort, show the grit, the toughness,” said Guiao. “If things don’t work, just put in the best effort.”
Unsung heroes
The Elasto Painters spoiled the Road Warriors’ dream elimination round campaign behind those qualities anchored on Jhonard Clarito’s hustle that netted back-to-back double-doubles, including a 13-point and 16-rebound performance in Saturday’s series-clinching 103-92 win.
Santi Santillan posted 24 points in his usual dual role, but the forward commended the showing of a relatively unknown Mike Malonzo, who had 10 points, six of them coming in the fourth.
Malonzo only joined Rain or Shine last conference after a stint with San Juan in the MPBL. There have been spurts of promise, with Guiao even putting him in the starting lineup on a few occasions. But his contribution in this type of contest proved vital.
“He breathed life to us,” said Santillan in Filipino.
The Elasto Painters are in their fourth straight semifinals, with Ginebra having the most in that period, followed by TNT and San Miguel with three each. NorthPort was the other team to make it to the Final Four in that stretch during the Commissioner’s Cup.
“I’m proud of these guys, because TNT is there, San Miguel’s there, Ginebra’s there and Rain or Shine’s there. Sino ba kami (who are we compared to them)?” said Guiao.
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“We’re like gate-crashers here because there are big teams that have lots of resources, but we made it to the semis.” INQ