Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao admitted that he almost gave up on the Elasto Painters during Game One of the squad’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup semi-finals duel against San Miguel Beer.
The Elasto Painters had to weather an early struggle and battle back from an 18-point first-half deficit to pull off the win. Maverick Ahanmisi led the charge with a career-high 23 points.
“It’s just one of those comebacks that will linger in your memory. I almost gave up on the guys. They did not give up on me,” Guiao shared after the match. “We pulled it using team effort. The guys did not give up. I almost gave up so it is really credit to the character of the team.”
Guiao shared that he told his troops “they will be lucky to win one game in this series” during the halftime break. Rain or Shine trailed 50-40 entering the third quarter.
Jeff Chan, though, considers the tongue-lashing as something to fire up the squad, and it eventually paid off.
“Nawalan nga daw siya ng hope eh at sabi niya mahirap daw makabawi lalo na kalaban namin San Miguel. Dun, I think nakatulong yun, nabuhayan kami, natauhan. Buti nagwork naman,” Chan, who finished with 10 points including a go-ahead three late in the game, shared.
The mentor went on to praise his group for not giving up and eventually taking the lead in the series.
“They proved me wrong. As great as (San Miguel) played, we won. It is a testament to the character of the team. No team wants a bad start. Swerte lang, nakalusot,” Guiao said.
Chan also hopes that this time around, Rain or Shine emerges as the winner of the series against San Miguel.
“Every series naman may kumpiyansa, ang hirap lang din malusutan ng San Miguel kasi malakas silang team. I think ngayong third time, sana makalusot kami. Nakakasawa rin na laging talo kami.”
