Game Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs San Miguel
San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine are set for an intense showdown as they start the other best-of-five semifinal series today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tipoff is set at 7 p.m. with the two teams looking to draw first blood in a series filled with different subplots.
It will be the third time that SMB and ROS will meet in the semis, and the first since import Arizona Reid changed uniforms this season.
Reid had played for Rain or Shine in 2011, 2013 and 2014 before allowed to join San Miguel as a replacement import in this year’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Since changing uniforms, Reid has won all two meetings he had against ROS, including last conference when things tensions boiled between him and former coach Yeng Guiao.
Guiao was fined P22,400 for elbowing Reid, who was accused of hurling profanities at the Elasto Painters bench during that March 13 game that saw the latter dropping 41 points.
The two men have since described the incident as water under the bridge.
“AZ’s right about that… and ako din naman,” Guiao said in response to Reid’s interview the other day. “I don’t want to look back at that na. I don’t want to distract myself and lose focus.” “My attitude is this is not between AZ and me. This is a team thing, this is a team game,” Guiao added after yesterday’s practice at the Northeast Greenhills gym.
SMB and ROS split their two semifinal meetings. The Beermen beat the Painters in the 2013 Governors’ Cup when they were still known as the Petron Blaze Boosters before the latter avenged that defeat in the 2014 Philippine Cup.
Rain or Shine survived Barako Bull in double overtime, 134-132, last Saturday while SMB foiled Meralco’s upset bid following a 102-86 win in Monday’s knockout match. (Waylon Galvez)