Having fresher legs and with all hands available, Rain or Shine tries to reward itself of being the most consistent team in the PBA with a title this time.
The Elasto Painters will come into the Oppo Commissioner’s Cup championship series opposite Alaska starting today with some kind of edge in manpower as they hope to go all the way here and win just the franchise’s second title, and first since 2012.
Game 1 tips off at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum with the Painters having the import perfect for their needs, superstar point guard Paul Lee rounding out to lethal form and a lineup that is arguably the deepest in the tournament.
Rain or Shine has been in the semifinals in nine of the last 10 conferences but has failed to add to the Governors’ Cup title it won with Jamelle Cornley four seasons ago.
Coach Yeng Guiao will be shooting to win the seventh title of his career and will be depending largely on his staff until after the national election on May 9 as he tries to get reelected as Pampanga’s Representative to Congress.
The Painters and the Aces play basically the same up-tempo game, and it will be the Alaska defense that will be in focus as it tries to shut down the gung-ho Rain or Shine offense that is anchored on multiple players.
Jeff Chan and Jericho Cruz have been great in these playoffs for the Painters, while Calvin Abueva will, as usual, be the energizer bunny of the Aces, who will try to win this conference for the second time since 2013.