Dynasty vs Destiny: B-MEG, Rain or Shine begin Governors’ Cup title showdown

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

Rain or Shine and B-MEG begin their best-of-seven title showdown as Game One of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals kicks off Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The series opener starts at 6 p.m. with the Elasto Painters starting their quest for their first PBA title.

“We are ready to play in the first finals trip for this franchise,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, who will try to secure his sixth PBA crown in his 10th finals appearance.

“It’s been so long since my last finals appearance and it feels like my first time again. B-MEG has been consistent the last two conferences and this consistency and maturity would be our biggest hurdle in our quest for a title.”

Guiao’s last finals appearance was with Red Bull in the 2006 Philippine Cup against Purefoods.

This is the franchise’s first trip to the finals and Guiao said it speaks about management’s commitment to the league.

“We are also happy to give the finals a new face, in the sense that we consider ourselves the David in a league of Goliaths,” said Guiao. Rain or Shine is one of the smaller companies in the PBA while the Llamados are one of the PBA squads under the giant San Miguel Corporation umbrella.

B-MEG clinched the second finals slot after its pulsating 74-72 win against Barangay Ginebra last Friday in their playoff match behind the last-second putback of Peter June Simon.

The Llamados are now on their second straight finals stint and coach Tim Cone said hunger factor won’t be an issue for them.

“This team is still hungry,” said Cone, who is trying to tie the legendary coach Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan for most PBA titles at 15.

“But we always have a tough match up with Rain or Shine. They are a physical team and we’re more of a fines team. So we have to be a tough guy to beat them.”

Cone admits that they didn’t have enough time to prepare for the Elasto Painters but they have “seven games to figure out how to beat them.”

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