The only time the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters smiled after a 105-103 Game Two win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last Sunday was when fans asked for photos, selfies, or autographs.
But beyond that, the Elasto Painters all exited the venue with determined looks on their faces, Even after Rain or Shine took a 2-0 in the finals series, players were keen on keeping focus.
“Whatever we did in the series so far, we will just keep doing it. We will push the ball, practice their trap, their zone. Siguro mas bibilisan pa namin yung running game namin,” Jericho Cruz, who finished with 14 points, said.
“We all know Alaska is a tough team. They have the ability to come back. We will just stay composed and believe in ourselves that we can do it, and work as hard as we did in Game 2 and Game 1.”
Jeff Chan, who along with Paul Lee were the high point men in tallying 17 points each, said the team cannot relax especially against a team like Alaska which refuses to back down.
“Kailangan sharp lang yung mindset namin. Yung goal andoon pa rin. Hindi ka pwede magrelax sa Alaska. Kita mo naman, up kami ng eight, less than two minutes, nahabol pa. Nagtie pa. Pahirap ng pahirap pero kailangan maging matatag,” Chan said.
It is clear the Elasto Painters are locked in. They don’t want to get ahead of themselves. There can’t be any form of letting up. Not against an equally strong Alaska side.
Beau Belga, who has been comparing the team’s campaign to a nail that’s keeping them stuck, said the nail is slowly getting loose.
“Medyo umaangat-angat na. Naka-angat na siguro ng two inches. Siguro pag Game 3 nanalo pa, naka-angat na ng three inches yun. Hopefully, hopefully mabunot na yun,” Belga shared. “[Expletive], sawa na ako, pagod na ako.”
Belga added the Elasto Painters are not yet thinking of the crown, but at the same time, they are glad to have taken the early lead in the series.
“As much as possible, kung mananalo kami ng maaga, kung makaka-advantage kami, mas better siguro. Kasi ang mga series namin pag tinitingnan mo, parang lagi kaming behind eh,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga, ayaw na naming pakawalan. Dalawa na lang, sila apat pa. sinasabi sa amin ni coach, every game, magiging mas mahirap. Game 3, iba na rin, mas mahirap kaysa Game 2. So kailangan namin i-embrace. Gusto namin yung sitwasyon na ito, andito na kami, so wala nang iwanan ito.”
All the Elasto Painters have to do now is to take advantage of the series, with hopes of finally ending a four-year championship drought.
“Ako hindi ko pa iniisip na panalo na kami. sabi ko sa sarili ko, kung gusto namin, pagtata-trabahuhan namin and yun naman ang maganda sa amin. Dahil nagkakaisa kami sa goal namin na gusto naming mag-champion,” Belga said.
“Siguro it’s about time, it’s about time kasi di na kami bumabata. Hindi na namin alam kung kelan ulit kami makakarating, makakaapak sa finals. Semifinals, medyo okay-okay, siyam na beses na. Pero hindi yun ang goal namin, finals and mag-champion ang goal namin so habang maganda yung chance, grab na lang.”
Maybe the Elasto Painters can finally sport smiles on their faces after the series.
Maybe.
But for now, they remain focused. No one is smiling. They simply can’t just yet.
