By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine hopes to paint a picture-perfect start to its PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup campaign when it goes for a first-round sweep against a surprisingly struggling San Miguel Beer at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The Elasto Painters, the only remaining team with an unblemished record in the league at 4-0, stake their streak against the Beermen (2-2) in their Group B match at 7:30 p.m.
Setting the table to the crucial tiff is the 5 p.m. Group A showdown between TNT (3-1), which like ROS, is hoping to end the first round atop its own standings, and Terrafirma (0-4), which, on the other hand, is hoping to find a way to plod through the injuries and pick up its first win in the season.
All eyes, however, should still be on Rain or Shine, which has been showing off its depth through its four victories, evident with the four different players – import Aaron Fuller, rookie Felix Lemetti, Adrian Nocum and Jhonard Clarito – getting the nods to the Best Player of the Game citations.
Outside the four, guys like Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut and another rookie Caelan Tiongson, have all been playing consistently for the Elasto Painters who now have the chance to eclipse their best start to franchise history at four wins.
Easier said the done, however, against the Beermen, who head coach Yeng Guiao see as the biggest test yet to his young but feisty squad.
For one, it was San Miguel which swept and eliminated Rain or Shine through four games in the Philippine Cup semifinals last season with no less than now eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo throwing his weight around in the series.
SMB should also have enough motivation to beat ROS, not only to put blemish to its clean slate but also to arrest its own slide after back-to-back losses to Barangay Ginebra and NLEX.
The Beermen certainly have the weapons to do so as aside from Fajardo, the team is also boasting potent talent in the likes of Marcio Lassiter and Terrence Romeo – two players who have yet to find their groove this conference – along with import Jordan Adams and star guard CJ Perez.
Meanwhile in the opening game, TNT aims to close out the first round on a two-game winning streak and atop the Group A standings.
The Tropang Giga are coming in well-rested after a five-day break and should have enough energy to easily push a struggling Dyip aside.
With key players Juami Tiongson and Kemark Carino questionable due to injuries and the import situation not getting any clear direction at this point, the cudgels now fall on the shoulders of offseason acquisitions Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to deliver the team’s first win.
