The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters drew first blood in their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals clash with the Converge FiberXers in dramatic fashion, rallying from 21 points down to score a 124-120 triumph at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
A catalyst for the comeback was Rain or Shine’s defense on Cameron Clark, who had previously led the FiberXers to five straight wins. He looked primed to carry Converge to a sixth consecutive victory on Tuesday, but Jhonard Clarito and Mike Malonzo had other plans. The two took turns bodying up Clark and held the veteran to just 10 points in the second half, with three coming from a triple he hit when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Clark Will Be a Problem, Says Guiao
Despite Rain or Shine clamping down on Clark in the second half of Game 1, Guiao believes the American will continue to pose problems for the Elasto Painters, especially with the FiberXers’ expected adjustments for Game 2 and beyond.
“He will still be a problem in the next games,” Guiao said of Clark, who began his career under Guiao with the NLEX Road Warriors back in 2022. “And I’m sure kung magaling naman ‘yung coaching staff nila, next game namin sila naman ang may adjustment… We need to be ready for the adjustment of the other side.”
Adjustments, of course, are part of what makes a playoff series compelling, so expect Converge to make a few of those come Game 2, including plotting ways to get Clark open and into better positions.
‘You Have to Be Consistent’
For the Elasto Painters, Game 2 could boil down to their patented ‘buwis-buhay’ brand of ball, which Guiao says was the key to their Game 1 comeback. Now, Rain or Shine will need to show that kind of effort at least two more times.
“Ang tanong dyan ngayon is can we do it two more times? Kaya pa ba namin gawin ‘yan ng dalawang beses?” Guiao asked rhetorically. “Hindi na kasi ito ‘yung dating format na you win once or twice, you get to the next round. Now you really have to win in a series. At pag series yan walang tsambahan dyan… You need three good games. You need to be consistent.”
Rain or Shine got one good game in already. It will be looking for a second one later tonight.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
