MANILA, Philippines - Umapaw ang pagnanais ng Rain or Shine na makamit ang korona sa pamamagitan ng kanilang panalo noong Linggo.
At umaasa ang Elasto Painters na maduduplika nila ang 81-74 tagumpay sa Game Five para makapuwersa ng isang winner-take-all match kontra sa San Mig Coffee sa PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven finale.
Muli silang maghaharap sa Game Six bukas sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“The big advantage is still on their side. But we’ll take a lot of encouragement and hope,†sabi ni Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Nananatiling positibo si Guiao na makukuha ng Asian Coating Inc. franchise ang kanilang pangalawang korona at ang kanyang kauna-unahang all-Filipino title.
“We’ll try to delay or postpone the celebration of San Mig Coffee. If we can delay it enough, it can be our celebration,†ani Guiao, isang six-time PBA champion coach sa mga import-reinforced tourneys.
Hangad ni Guiao, isa ring mambabatas na kumakatawan sa district I ng Pampanga sa Kongreso, na mababasag ang kanilang pagkakatabla ni Tommy Manotoc bilang ikaanim na winningest coach sa likod nina Baby Dalupan (15), Tim Cone (15), Norman Black (10), Chot Reyes (9) at Jong Uichico (8).
Ngunit alam ni Guiao na kailangan nilang magsikap para masikwat ang titulo.
“The way the series is going, they’re not getting tired. We have to win it on merit,†wika ni Guiao.
Matapos mailapit ang kanilang best-of-seven series sa 2-3, nangako si Guiao na ibubuhos nila ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya.
“I told the boys we can’t lose that sense of destiny. Even if we’re behind, it’s not over. We have to believe in ourselves and stay positive. A win like this can turn around the complexion of the series,†ani Guiao.