The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on a third-quarter barrage to secure a pivotal Game 1 win over the Converge FiberXers on Tuesday to start their PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals series. Among the heroes of that big rally was Deo Cuajao, who contributed 13 points to Rain or Shine’s 42-point total in the period.
After the game, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao offered up a unique way of praising Cuajao, who is one of the team’s three prized rookies in Season 50.
Guiao Praises Deo Cuajao’s ‘Kapal ng Mukha’
During the postgame press conference, Guiao pointed out that Cuajao’s “kapal ng mukha” was the reason Rain or Shine drafted him in the first place.
“Makapal naman talaga ang mukha niyan kahit nung nasa Letran pa ’yan, sa NCAA pa ’yan. Kaya namin siya kinuha dahil makapal ang mukha niya,” said Guiao.
That “kapal ng mukha” in this case refers to Cuajao’s willingness to fire away even at the slightest of openings. In other words, he isn’t shy to shoot it, and when he gets going, he can really get it going. The rookie finished the game with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in 21 minutes of action, but it was his hot streak in the third quarter that really helped Rain or Shine get the Game 1 win.
Deo Cuajao Agrees
In a postgame media scrum, the former Letran Knight agreed with his coach.
“Kinakapalan ko lang din talaga mukha ko. Kumbaga doon na lang ako kumukuha ng kumpyansa. Kasi kung hindi makapal ang mukha, wala,” said Cuajao with a laugh.
Cuajao stayed in character against Converge. Prior to his third-quarter outburst, the rookie had only 2 points. But the FiberXers left him open after halftime, and Cuajao made them pay.
“Kapag nalibre, tira lang talaga kasi kung hindi ka titira, papagalitan ka ni Coach Yeng,” Cuajao pointed out.
Indeed, Guiao has earned a reputation for wanting his players to let it fly when open. And the rookie is following that mantra to the fullest.
That should serve as a fair warning to Converge not to keep leaving Deo Cuajao open too much.
