Dubai: Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao credited supporters for giving his side the spirit to overcome Global Port 119-112 in their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governor’s Cup tie at Al Shabab club here on Thursday.
Guiao’s Elasto Painters were considered the underdogs coming into this weekend’s Dubai double-header because they were faced with back-to-back games and had yet to get a win in the third and final conference of the PBA season.
But, despite a late charge from Global Port led by 40-point top-scorer Terrence Romeo, Rain or Shine had done enough in the first two quarters — they led by 17 at half-time — to survive Batang Pier’s second-half revival.
Responsibilities were shared by a more rotational Rain or Shine, with everyone getting on the scoresheet, led by Wendell McKines (28 points) and Quinahan JR (24). But the game was arguably won in the first quarter after bully boy Beau Belga asserted himself in the heart of defence. Global Port were also without injured talisman Stanley Pringle.
“We wanted to entertain our kabayans (compatriots) and give them a nice game to remember us by when we leave,” Guiao said, when asked what had inspired his side’s first win of the conference. “We just wanted to reciprocate the hospitality of the people.
“We were underdogs not only because of the back-to-back factor, but also because coming into this game we hadn’t won. We have zero in two back in Manila and Global Port had three and one and were playing well coming into this game.
“This is a very important win for us as it gives us momentum going into the next game against Ginebra. It makes it easier psychologically to prepare coming from a win rather than a loss.
“We used our bench in full rotation to conserve our guys’ energy to be relatively fresher, but we expect the same intensity, aggression and speed. That was a really fast and physical game and it takes a lot out of you, so hopefully we can still play the same way.
“But we are confident that with another very lively and animated crowd they will help energise us for the game and we are just trying to live off that energy.”
Global Port coach Pido Jarencio admitted his side got off to a poor start, but said they were still well placed for the series.
“We started slow and picked up in the second half — that’s where we caught up with them and limited our turnovers. We were driving from free throws not like the first half, when we kept shooting from outside and had a low percentage.
“At least we are still there with three and two, right now in the tournament we are in fifth or sixth place and still have a good chance of making the play-offs.”
