Jeff Chan was relieved to end two things before 2017 ended
Prior to Rain or Shine’s highly-anticipated match-up against former Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao and the NLEX Road Warriors, Jeff Chan simply could not find his shot. A career 32.7 percent three-point shooter, the 32-year-old mightily struggled in Rain or Shine’s first five games in the 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup, going just 4-of-19 from distance.
Chan was bound to erupt and he did Friday evening. And it could not have gone at a better time than against his former mentor.
“Unang-una masayang manalo. First pa lang ito pero marami pa kaming beses na magkikita ni coach Yeng pero masaya lang ako na nakuha namin yung first game against him,” he said after Rain or Shine’s 107-97 win over NLEX.
The Bacolod-native came out swinging right from the get-go, scoring seven points in the opening quarter. He finished the game with his personal conference-high 16 points that included three triples. No one was more relieved than Chan himself.
“No naman [na added motivation against coach Yeng]. Yung flow siguro nakuha ko na. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy,” he shared.
However, he still finds it weird to not have Guiao watching his back.
“Medyo weird. Hinintay ko nga na murahin ako or banggain. First meeting kasi.
“I know sa next meetings na magkikitakita kami, wala na,” Chan, who won two championships with Guiao, reflected.
“Ilang taon din kami nagsama ni coach Yeng. Hinintay namin siyang lahat after the game pero I know next game wala na,” he quipped.
But now that his struggles and this game is over with, Chan and his team can finally move on and set their targets on the bigger goal: to win that elusive Philippine Cup.
