by Waylon Galvez
Games Today (Alonte Sports Center, Binan, Laguna)
5:45 p.m. – San Miguel Beer vs Barako Bull
8 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Talk ‘N Text
Rain or Shine (ROS) hopes to score a follow-up to its inspiring victory over the weekend when it battles a Talk ’N Text team that will parade a new import in today’s PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup doubleheader at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan, Laguna.
The Elasto Painters, who rolled to a 119-97 rout of Globalport last Sunday, are also eyeing a vengeful win over the Tropang Texters in their 8 p.m. duel after being swept in the best-of-five semifinals of the Commissioner’s Cup.
Meantime, San Miguel Beer goes for its second consecutive win when it battles Barako Bull in the 5:45 p.m. opener. The Beermen are three days removed from defeating defending champion San Mig Super Coffee, 92-90.
ROS had an unusual start to its campaign when it suffered a 103-96 loss to Air21 followed by a 97-92 setback to San Miguel. But last Sunday, the Painters regained the form that made them a consistent title contender by posting the second highest point output by a winning team this season.
Former Best Import Arizona Reid had 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Jeff Chan finally got out of a shooting slump that started last conference by firing 19 points.
Paul Lee added 17 points and combined with Chan for six triples in that contest. Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao expects to see that same performance against TNT.
“If we can get the locals involve again like in our previous win, we have a good chance against Talk ’N Text,” said ROS mentor Yeng Guiao, adding that the outcome of the last conference doesn’t matter anymore.
“We don’t dwell in the past, our focus now is to get better this conference and improve our performance. But like in our previous games against TNT, we expect a tough game. We don’t know anything about their new import, but we’ll be ready,” said Guiao.
Talk ’N Text will be playing with new reinforcement Rodney Carney after world governing body FIBA ruled that Othyus Jeffers was not formally released by the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
With Jeffers out, TNT was forced to play with an all-Filipino lineup and absorbed a 103-91 loss to Alaska last Monday to fall at 1-1.
Carney played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and the Timberwolves in the NBA with averages of 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds.
“He is a good defender who can score slashing to the basket,” said TNT mentor Norman Black. “We are hoping he can step in and help the team right away despite coming in on short notice.