Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao doesn’t prefer anyone for their potential foes in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
Entering the playoffs as the seventh seed, the Elasto Painters could face either Phoenix Super LPG or perennial contenders San Miguel Beer.
Both squads have a crack at finishing the elimination round as the no. 2 seed.
“Sabi nga ni Tim Cone n’on sa akin, beware of what you wish for,” the champion mentor said after their 112-111 win over Converge, Sunday. “Bahala sila. Basta kung sinong lumabas na kalaban namin, paghahandaan naming mabuti.”
As of this posting, the Fuel Masters are taking on TNT at the Philsports Arena, looking to beat the Tropang Giga to secure the second spot.
But should they lose, Coach Jamike Jarin’s wards would fall to no. 4 instead, with the Beermen (8-3) earning the said seeding instead.
If Rain or Shine and Phoenix won’t cross paths in the quarters starting next week, Guiao believes that it would mean a lot for the independent teams.
“Ang nasa isip ko, kung hindi namin makakatapat ‘yung Phoenix, ibig sabihin dalawa kaming independent teams na may chance na makapasok. Na very rare, sa Top Four, merong dalawang independent team makapasok,” he said.
It’s not to say, though, that they would rather face the Beermen instead, a team that finished the elimination round with five consecutive wins.
But Guiao admitted that he will always be cheering for the independent clubs in the league, and his charges will be ready for whatever may happen.
“In my mind, maganda sana ‘yun, pero makakatapat mo naman San Miguel, parang wala kang itulak kabigin,” he said. “Pero I’m always cheering for the independent teams pagdating sa ganito, kasi independent team din kami.
“Alam namin gaano kahirap makarating dun sa semifinals eh. Ganun lang, laban lang ng parehas, tingnan mo hanggang saan ka makakarating.”
