Rain or Shine played a preseason game against NLEX as if it was competing in one of the weekend leagues that had sprouted around the metropolis.
The Elasto Painters were cracking jokes and cheering loudly whenever one of their players would make a basket.
Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao, meanwhile, seems to be in midseason form.
He got a technical foul for arguing at an official and later expressed disappointment over his team’s performance in the 96-89 loss at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas.
For both teams and four others yesterday, it was a business as usual even as they await the permanent solution to the current impasse that could put the PBA’s Dec. 17 opening in jeopardy.
“We try to focus on our job, ayaw namin maging distraction sa amin yan,” Guiao told the Bulletin after their match with his former team. “In the first place, if you cannot control it, why worry about it? Hindi namin poproblemahin yan, wala naman kaming magagawa dun e.”
The Rain or Shine-NLEX game was part of a three-day pocket tournament that began Monday at Upper Deck. Phoenix and Alaska were the other participants, the former posting an 89-85 victory in the other match yesterday.
Phoenix and Alaska met at the same time that San Miguel and Kia played in front of jubilant students at the Claret School in Quezon City. The Picanto pulled off a stunning 78-75 win over the defending Philippine Cup champion Beermen.
The Upper Deck pocket tournament will conclude today with Rain or Shine seeking a three-game sweep against Alaska, a record that would give the team a much-needed boost should the scheduled start takes off.
“We have a feeler from management that we have to be prepared whether it starts or it doesn’t start,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “This is our job and we have to continue to work.”
Another preseason game will take in Claret tomorrow with Magnolia facing GlobalPort. From there, teams have the option to schedule their own tune-ups or team-building sessions while their bosses try to end the divide.
