Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao admits there’s a strong desire for his players to avenge their heartbreaking loss to Talk ’N Text in the Commissioner’s Cup finals when the two teams clash today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the University of St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City.
Not only are the Elasto Painters need to win their 5 p.m. duel with the Tropang Texters to stay alive in the playoff hunt but are also eager to erase the bitter memory of losing a seven-game thriller last April.
TNT captured the second conference crown via a 121-119 double overtime victory last April 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Palagay ko hindi mawawala ’yung desire to get even,” said Guiao, whose loss marked the fourth straight time Rain or Shine lost in the finals after its breakthrough title in the 2012 Governors’ Cup.
But first, ROS must think of securing a win to climb up in the standings. The Painters are currently tied for 9th to 11th places with the defending champion Star Hotshots and NLEX Road Warriors at 2-4.
NLEX is playing San Miguel Beer at presstime at the Big Dome, while Star is scheduled to face rival Barangay Ginebra San Miguel tomorrow at the same venue.
ROS got its winning form back last Tuesday when it smashed Blackwater, 123-85, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Guiao said they are still working on rediscovering the chemistry and confidence, and playing TNT will test his team.
“We’re still trying to reconstruct our chemistry, trying to bring it back the confidence. Our previous win is key for us psychologically in rebuilding our lost chemistry and confidence due to a bad start,” said Guiao.
TNT is nursing a 119-85 defeat to sister team Meralco, also on Tuesday. The loss sent the Tropang Texters to 3-3 for solo seventh.
The game will focus on the import matchup between Rain or Shine’s Wendell McKines (27 points and 13.2 rebounds) and Talk ‘N Text’s Steffphon Pettigrew (27.5 points and 12.5 rebounds).