Rain or Shine is aiming for a triumphant beginning in its demanding Jones Cup schedule as it goes up against the host team, Chinese Taipei Team A, led by the 6-foot-11 American-Taiwanese player, William Artino, on Saturday, August 12.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the Elasto Painters are eager to surprise the Taiwanese national team on their home turf.
The Taiwanese squad is expected to receive strong support from the local crowd.
Beyond that, the Elasto Painters are in search of a victory that could establish the tone for their campaign, especially considering their upcoming challenge of six consecutive games over as many days.
First and foremost, the E-Painters need to neutralize Artino, as well as the seasoned players Liu Cheng and Ying-Chun Chen, in order to overcome their initial hurdle.
Upon arriving in Taipei on Friday, August 11, Rain or Shine, led by Alternate Governor Edison Oribiana and Redmond Yu, immediately got down to business at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium.
“It’s always satisfying to kick off with a win, especially against the home team. We understand that the odds might not be in our favor, but we need to maintain our belief in our ability to win. A strong start often leads to a strong finish,” remarked ROS deputy Caloy Garcia, who oversaw the team’s inaugural practice.
Anticipated to be at the forefront for ROS are their imports, Ange Kouame and Nick Evans, although the team will also heavily rely on their youthful core composed of Rey Nambatac, Shaun Ildefonso, Anton Asistio, Santi Santillan, and Andrei Caracut.