Rain or Shine shoots for first-ever PBA crown, tries to wrap up series against B-Meg today
Game today:
Araneta Coliseum
6:45 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. B-Meg
Knowing how tough their opponent is, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters must go for the quick kill.
The Painters try to finish off the beleaguered B-Meg Llamados and win their first-ever championship title as they collide in today’s Game 5 of the 37th PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Painters moved a game away from winning their first title since joining the league in 2006 after they pulled off a 93-84 win in last Sunday’s Game 4.
With that win, Rain or Shine has three chances of finally becoming a champion.
But for head coach Yeng Guiao, the series has to end right away. “If they’re able to come back strong on Wednesday (today) and get on a roll…. They’re going to be hard to stop once they get their bearings,” Guiao told pba.ph.
“We got some breathing room, but it is by no means done,” said Guiao. “It takes a bit off the pressure, but this is a vulnerable moment for us. Anything can change in a second against a team like B-Meg.”
The top-seeded Painters were predicted to face an uphill battle after they lost star rookie Paul Lee in their 80-85 Game 2 loss. Lee, who was named the Rookie of the Year, is already out for the remainder of the series after re-injuring a dislocated left shoulder.
According to B-Meg head coach Tim Cone, the Painters have managed to grab the upper hand in the series because they have been playing loose.
“They’re certainly playing pressure-free, but that’s understandable at this point,” said Cone. “For them they have a future beyond Game 5. We don’t.”
