After Rain or Shine scored a 112-108 Game Three win on Wednesday over the Alaska Aces to extend its 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals series lead to 3-0, Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said he wants his team to maintain mental focus as they move closer to winning a title.
“This is just mental focus. Being able to execute our game plan all throughout the series. We’ve been able to handle their press well. We have the materials to beat their press,” Guiao said.
“Consistent defense, keeping the game fast are going to be the keys on Friday.”
The Elasto Painters dominated the Aces in the middle quarters of Game Three before fending off a late fourth quarter storm from their opponents to keep the Aces listless in the series.
But even if his team is just one win left before ending a four-year championship drought, Guiao is still wary comebacks from 0-3 series deficits aren’t impossible, so the Elasto Painters have to keep those in mind as well.
“It happened before, it can happen again. That’s going to be what’s on our mind. We don’t want to be in that position where we will lose a three-game lead,” Guiao said.
Guiao added taking as much as 25-point lead in Game Three helped the squad avoid trouble late in the match. Much of what the Elasto Painters did during the stretch where they pulled away should be done again in Game Four.
“Buti na lang malaki lamang namin. We did not finish the game well but it is still a win. We can get a championship on Friday. What’s important is we have a 3-0 lead. We have one foot inside the door,” he said. “The way we built the lead was just taking care of the ball.”
