By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine hopes to follow up its first win while Converge continues its search for its own breakthrough in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, April 3.
Just like in the last conference, the Elasto Painters aim to sustain what could be the team’s turnaround in the 7:30 affair against the FiberXers who, on the other hand, spent the two-week break contemplating on how to get over the hump after a 0-5 start to the tournament.
Setting up the table for the crucial clash is an equally entertaining showdown between Meralco and Terrafirma – two teams also looking to go on a streak in the 4:30 p.m. curtain raiser.
Rain or Shine, despite the injury bug on its frontline crew, managed to pull through with its first win of the conference after a 100-85 victory over the shorthanded Phoenix.
Rookie guard Adrian Nocum came up big for his team with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Beau Belga gave a huge lift with 21 points and 11 rebounds to its frontline that is still missing rookie bigs Keith Datu and Luis Villegas due to respective knee injuries
Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao was glad that the team’s first win came a little sooner than later, unlike in the Commissioner’s Cup when they fell to a 0-5 hole. Rain or Shine, though, showed unwavering grit and resolve as it stringed together six-straight wins to still barge into the quarterfinals as the eighth seed.
That is something Converge hopes to do as well as it finds itself the lone team without a win in the all-Filipino conference so far. The season has been nothing but frustrations for the FiberXers after also finishing with a 1-10 record last conference.
Converge stars Justin Arana and Alec Stockton hope to build up from their solid performances in the RSJ Game during the 2024 PBA All-Stars in Bacolod City.
Arana claimed the MVP honors of the festivities after dropping 36 points to power Team Greats to a 142-133 win over Team Stalwarts. His partner, Stockton, didn’t have a huge scoring night but ran the show at the point guard spot and provided a couple of nifty passes and highlight plays.
While the two are slowly emerging as the FiberXers bonafide stars, they still need more help from the rest of the crew, especially facing up against a deep and well-rounded Elasto Painters team.
Guys like Schonny Winston, JL Delos Santos and Bryan Santos should provide big contributions should Converge hopes to pick up its first win against Rain or Shine that also have young guns Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan, Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyac.
