Author: Martin Bolima
Photo Credit: PBA Images
Making the semifinals in the PBA is motivation enough for any team. But it appears the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters were extra motivated in the quarterfinals showdown with the Magnolia Hotshots, which they won after outlasting Magnolia in Game 5 at the Ynares Center on Saturday night, October 5.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao bared in the postgame press conference after Game 5 that his team felt challenged by what he perceives was a conscious decision on the part of Magnolia to play the Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals instead of the San Miguel Beermen.
Of course, none of the Hotshots said anything of that sort. But for Guiao, actions speak louder than words.
Guiao Believes Magnolia Deliberately Chose Rain or Shine as Quarterfinal Opponent
“We felt a little challenged, kasi alam namin na parang ginusto ng Magnolia na kami ang makatapat nila,” the multititled coach told reporters after Game 5. “‘Yung game nila with Converge [FiberXers], I felt mas importante sa kanila ‘yung makapagpahinga daw ‘yung mga players kesa mag-compete sila dun sa laro na ‘yun. So, to me, it was really a conscious choice on their part to play us.”
Longtime Elasto Painter Gabe Norwood apparently thought the same and encouraged his team to make the Hotshots regret the apparent disrespect.
“Gabe Norwood kept telling us that we should exact some form of revenge that these guys chose us. Mas maganda na magsisi sila na tayo pinili nila. That was put as a challenge to the guys,” Guiao added, grinning.
Indeed, the Hotshots lost to the FiberXers in their final elimination game, dropping them to the fourth seed and into a collision course with top seed Rain or Shine. And, for a while, it looked as if Magnolia was going to send Rain or Shine packing, racing to a quick 23-11 lead in Game 5.
But, with some extra motivation, Rain or Shine was able to mount a comeback and eventually won, 113-103.
The moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for.
