Gone are the days when the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters were the ones tearing up teams apart. Gone are the days when the team was feared in the open court.
Their dominant runs may have taken place just a year ago, but it felt like it happened ages back, a testament that they are still reeling from the loss of former head coach Yeng Guiao.
And after Monday night’s 36-point loss to Star Hotshots in Game One of their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup, veteran forward Beau Belga could not help but reminisce to their heydays before.
What made the 30-year-old compare their current situation from the past though was the way the Hotshots ran the floor all game long — the very same style the E-Painters utilized under Guiao that led them to many victories.
“In the last seven years, six years, kami yung fast breaking team,” recalled Belga, who was a vital cog in the Guiao era where he helped the Elasto Painters clinch two championships. “Tinalo kami ngayon, 30-5.
“Mahirap tanggapin kasi kami ‘yung ganoon dati, nagta-top pa kami sa fastbreak.”
Monday night’s defeat was hard to digest for Rain or Shine. Aside from being down 0-1, the 36-point drubbing they received also served as their third worst loss in franchise history. But, the team could not do anything but to move on, said Belga.
“Wala naman kaming magagawa doon eh. Sabi nga ni coach Caloy [Garcia], kahit na 38 points, or one point, ganoon pa rin ‘yun, talo pa rin ‘yun.”
Still, the 6-foot-5 center and his side remain defiant despite the morale-crushing loss, believing that they can still rise above and do better come Game Two, which will happen this Wednesday still at the Big Dome.
“Alam mong hindi naman kami ganito eh. We play better pagkadating ng playoffs. Alam namin sa sarili namin yun. It’s a learning process, it’s learning sa amin kung paano kami magba-bounce back,” said the nine-year veteran.
“Alam namin sa sarili namin na kaya namin.”
