Date with destiny? Rain or Shine goes for the kill in Game Five against B-MEG

AKTV/Paolo Papa

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters look to clinch their first PBA championship in franchise history while the B-MEG Llamados fight for survival when the teams clash in Game Five of their best-of-seven series in the PBA Governors’ Cup finals Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Elasto Painters and Llamados duel at 6:45 p.m. with Rain or Shine leading the series, 3-1, and just one game away from the title.

Despite playing without star guard Paul Lee, who aggravated a shoulder injury in Game Two, the Elasto Painters have won the last two games behind strong performances from import Jamelle Cornley and big contributions from their local crew.

Rain or Shine fell behind by as much as 17 points early in Game Four before bouncing back to win, 94-89, last Sunday.

But Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao thinks this could be when the Elasto Painters will be at their most vulnerable.

“We might think it’s over, but it’s not,” Guiao warned.

B-MEG, meanwhile, will be looking to extend series but might have to do it without emotional leader Marc Pingris, who was declared “doubtful” for Game Five by B-MEG coach Tim Cone.

“He’s got a severe stiff neck from the Arana foul,” said Cone.

Pingris was the recipient of a hard foul from Rain or Shine’s Ryan Arana in Game Four, and retaliated with a head-butt that was called a flagrant foul penalty one. His foul was upgraded to penalty two after the game, but Pingris escaped a suspension, earning a P20,000 fine for his actions instead.

B-MEG superstar James Yap scored 25 points in their Game Four loss to bounce back from a seven-point outing in Game Three where he, Pingris, Peter June Simon and import Marqus Blakely all played limited minutes in the second half.

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