Guiao: Rain or Shine fresher, hungrier team, but B-MEG has edge in experience

AKTV/Joser Dumbrique

There are some members of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with PBA championship experience. Problem is, none of them could suit up for the squad when they begin their Governors’ Cup title series on Sunday against B-MEG.

“Ang tanging may championship experience lang naman sa team namin ay ako, si Coach Roehl Nadurata, and si Andy Jao,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao told InterAKTV in a telephone interview on Saturday.

“But I don’t consider that a problem. Besides, we like the way as it is because that makes us a hungrier team.”

Guiao said he expects the Elasto Painters to be the fresher team at the beginning of the series.

“We had a few days of rest, making us a fresher team coming into the finals while B-MEG, on the other hand, is coming off a playoff and has played in the finals last conference. Nagkaka-injury na nga rin yung mga players nila because of the number of games they’ve played the past two conferences,” said Guiao, who makes it a philosophy to go deep into his bench to preserve the freshness of his players’ legs.

“As long as we can stay fresh and show our hunger, we have a chance of winning the championship.”

He acknowledges that B-MEG has an edge because of its championship experience.

“James [Yap] is picking up his game, while PJ [Simon] has been providing firepower either coming off the bench or starting. [Marc] Pingris and [Marqus] Blakely provide energy while Yancy [De Ocampo] has been playing steady basketball lately,” said Guiao.

“They’ve been in this situation many times, so they know how to play at this level.”

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