Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Preseason tourney helped Rain or Shine bench gain experience


Though they failed to finish the PBA Preseason Games with a three-game sweep, preseason champions Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia is still satisfied with what he has seen from the Elasto Painters.

“We didn’t want to finish the tournament with a loss,” said the youthful mentor after their 97-110 loss to the Alaska Aces on Wednesday at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Pasig. “But I told them after the game that I’m happy with what I saw.

“2-1 is not bad.”

For the second-year head coach, joining the tourney was his way of helping Rain or Shine improve. And judging from their first two games against the Phoenix Fuel Masters and NLEX Road Warriors, the team showed signs of returning to their old identity of being dangerously deep.

What made Garcia beam about the Elasto Painters’ preseason even more was the notable outings of some players — from sophomore Ed Daquioag stepping up (12.5 PPG) to the resurgence of Chris Tiu (15.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.5 APG).

Even Don Trollano and Dexter Maiquez made their presence felt in the three-day long preseason showpiece, as the two-way forwards delivered 12.0 points and 13.0 points respectively for Rain or Shine.

Those kinds of performances could make any tactician gush. And for the Elasto Painters in particular, it was a truly fitting — if not perfect — response to what the soft-spoken Garcia has been preaching to them.

“I just kept reminding the players that not one guy can win us games, it should be a total team effort,” he said. “Yun ang palagi kong pinapasok sa utak nila, it’s all about the team.

“It’s not about somebody, it’s all about the team.”

And that lesson is something that the players, especially the younger ones, have to keep in mind, since guys such as James Yap, Jay Washington, Raymond Almazan, and Jericho Cruz have all yet to reach 100 percent.

#ReadMore  James Yap wants to get back in top shape before entering into contract talks with ROS

“That’s one other thing, we joined here to get more experience for the players who rarely play,” said the youthful tactician.

“So at least mabigyan sila ng kaunting experience before we go to the opening.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Rain or Shine bid goodbye to its PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup campaign on Friday night but head coach Yeng Guiao remained...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – TNT took care of business and finished off Rain or Shine, 113-95, to formalize its return to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals,...

Basketball

Santi Santillan is determined to play through the pain now that Rain or Shine is on the brink of elimination in the PBA Season...

Basketball

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson did everything yet again to tow TNT past Rain or Shine, 81-79, to move one win away from securing a return trip...

Basketball

Aaron Fuller came through in the clutch as Rain or Shine eked out a 110-109 win to avoid falling to a precarious position in...

Basketball

Beau Belga refuses to use inexperience as an excuse now that Rain or Shine is two losses away from being swept in the PBA...

Basketball

Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac were the duo TNT used to eventually take down Rain or Shine, 108-91, and build a 2-0 lead in...

Basketball

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was the stabilizing presence TNT needed to beat Rain or Shine, 90-81, to draw first blood in their PBA Season 49 Governors’...

Advertisement