ADMITTEDLY, luck played a big role for Rain or Shine and helped point it to a win in its last outing.
The Elasto Painters now need much more than a smile from Lady Luck Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo when they take on the Meralco Bolts whose sense of urgency is even more heightened following back-to-back losses.
"You're hoping your luck would hold out, pero Meralco kalaban so medyo mabigat," acknowledged Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, who is bidding to steer his team to a 2-1 record over a Meralco squad that currently sits on a 2-2 slate.
Making Guiao approach the match with extra caution is the fact big men Keith Datu and Beau Belga remain questionable due to a calf injury and vertigo, respectively.
The two's absence was hardly felt last April 16 when the remaining E-Painters pulled off a 113-96 victory over a NorthPort crew that was without main man Arvin Tolentino, sidelined by a hip injury.
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Meralco would not be caught unaware, however, having had plenty of time to prepare since bowing to Phoenix Super LPG, 97-109, last April 13.
"The guys are moving well. Parang we put in the work this past week and sana ma-translate sa magandang ipapakita," said coach Luigi Trillo of his Bolts while remaining wary of the E-Painters.
"Against Rain or Shine you have to be at your best. They play hard, they push the pace, they put you on your heels, they don't wait for you to set up and, at the same time, maganda depensa," explained Trillo.
With the likes of Gabe Norwood, Santi Santillan, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson putting in extra effort in tending the boards, Rain or Shine even managed to outrebound NorthPort. But it could be a very different story since Meralco boasts of a frontline led by Raymond Almazan, Brandon Bates and Cliff Hodge.
"We know we are at a disadvantage in size so the pressure now is on us to be able to play our strong suit, which is playing with a lot more pace to offset our lack of height," said Guiao.
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"We also need to defend better kasi hindi lang 'yung bigs malalaki sila sa amin. Pati mga guards nila, mga wings nila. They were already bigger than us even before we lost our bigs."
Trillo said having a size advantage may not work in one's favor against a team like Rain or Shine. "We do have size, but sometimes speed can offset that. Size can work against you kasi hindi ka nakakadepensa ng pick-and-roll, handoffs, ng takbuhan," he said. (NC)
