Rain or Shine Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao has been around long enough. So, it’s fair to think he’d know a championship-caliber team when he sees one.
And, evidently, he sees one in the team his Elasto Painters will be facing in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals: the Converge FiberXers.
“Itong Converge na kalaban namin, ang lineup nito pang-championship,” Guiao said after Rain or Shine sealed the No. 2 seed in Group B with a 133-103 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Player for player, Guiao has a point. The FiberXers are loaded with talent led by three Gilas Pilipinas players in Juan Gomez de Liaño, Justin Arana, and Justine Baltazar. They have a former national team member in Calvin Abueva coming off the bench, along with a two-time PBA Finals MVP in Mikey Williams. They also have a two-way force in Alec Stockton and solid pieces in Jonnel Policarpio, Jaydee Tungcab, and Sherwin Concepcion. Importantly, Cameron Clark has proven to be the right fit.
Converge Only Missing Experience
While the talent at Converge is undeniable, Guiao believes the FiberXers might still be wanting in two key areas: experience and chemistry. The latter, though, is starting to come along, according to the fiery tactician.
“Ang kulang lang sa kanila siguro ‘yung experience lang at konting gelling pa,” Guiao added. “At tingin ko, lately, ang ganda ng kinikilos nila. Mukhang nasa-solve nila ‘yung problema nila dati na medyo basag pa yung teamwork nila. Ngayon, makikita mo na buong-buo na ‘yung team na ‘yun…”
Guiao, again, is right. Converge has been playing well lately and is riding high on a five-game winning streak after losing four straight early. It also boasts a league-best 122.4 points per game and is tops in assists, too, with 29.4 assists per game.
Guiao Thinks Cameron Clark Is a Good Fit
Perhaps not coincidentally, Converge started winning consistently when it brought in Cameron Clark after previously tapping Jalen Hudson and Jamaal Franklin. Guiao, of course, is intimately familiar with Clark, who played under the veteran mentor when he was still coaching the NLEX Road Warriors.
That familiarity means Guiao has firsthand knowledge of what Clark brings as an import, and the former believes the latter is just what the doctor ordered for the FiberXers.
“Nasa NLEX, kinakapa pa niya ‘yung laro ng PBA. Ngayon parang kabisado na niya tapos maganda pa pagka-gel niya sa team niya,” Guiao said of his former import. “Siya ‘yung kailangan na import ng Converge. Meron siyang inside presence, medium range, nakaka-rebound, nakakatakbo siya. Maganda siyang pyesa… Tumama sila [Converge] sa pagpili ng import.”
Later today, Guiao and his Elasto Painters will get to test Clark and the championship-level roster of Converge in what promises to be a thrilling quarterfinal matchup.
Tip-off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum is at 5:15 p.m.
