E-Painters eye playoff edge vs Energy

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine shoots for a quarterfinals twice-to-beat edge while Barako Bull tries to catch up with Air21 at eighth place as the Elasto Painters and the Energy Cola meet in a crucial faceoff in the fourth to last playdate of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

The Elasto Painters go for a sure playoff shot at No. 2 while the Energy Cola look to keep their playoffs hopes alive as they tangle at 7:30 p.m., succeeding the non-bearing match between the Alaska Milk Aces and the Globalport Batang Pier at 5:15 p.m.

Alaska has put the lock on playoffs top-seeding with a 10-3 win-loss card while Globalport has moved out of the running for the post-elims play with a 2-10 slate.

As the Aces clinched top spot on their 102-93 drubbing of the Barangay Ginebra Kings last Wednesday, the E-Painters (8-4) are left to contest second place with the Petron Blaze Boosters (7-5).

“It’s important for us to get second place for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“A win versus Barako assures us of a playoff for No. 2, but we have two major concerns against them,” Guiao also said. “We know their import DJ Mbenga can play a lot better than their last outing. And if he can play well at the post, our problem becomes more serious because Barako is a good three-point shooting team.”

Barako Bull consultant Rajko Toroman expects Mbenga, an eight-year NBA veteran with two champion rings as an LA Laker, to redeem himself from his woeful 14-point PBA debut versus the Petron Blaze Sunday.

“We anticipated that he would struggle in his first game with us, having not played a single game in three months. But having been here for a week, we expect a better game from him against Rain or Shine,” said Toroman.

The Energy Cola must win their last two games versus the E-Painters and the Globalport Batang Pier to have a shot at the last quarters berth.

Air21 completes the eight-team quarters roster if it beats Petron Blaze Sunday and Barako loses one of its last two games.

Mbenga must be in shape if they’re to hurdle Bruno Sundov and the E-Painters.

“We have the advantage speed-wise. As long as we’re running and in transition, we’ll be the better team. So we’ll keep pushing,” said Guiao.

If the E-Painters are able to bounce back from their harrowing loss to the Alaska Milk Aces the last time out, they assure themselves of a playoff shot at second spot at the close of the elims plays.

The E-Painters should’ve been assured of a tie for second place if not for their meltdown versus the Aces Friday where they blew away a 22-point lead in an 84-89 heartbreaker.

Now, they still have to handle Barako and Meralco.

“They’ve (the Energy Cola) become a real balanced team (with Mbenga). But we’ve got a defensive preparation and hopefully it works,” Guiao said.

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