BARANGAY Ginebra has gotten Rain or Shine's number in back-to-back games.
It's now a matter of the Kings trying to pull off a rare feat over the Elasto Painters when they square off anew Wednesday in their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A follow up by Ginebra to its 88-80 win over Rain or Shine at the start of the best-of-three duel just last Monday would push the perennial crowd favorites into a best-of-seven semi-finals match up with either San Miguel Beer or TNT.
Although his team has actually won two in a row over the E-Painters, counting their 100-82 triple overtime thriller last Friday, Kings coach Tim Cone knows it's not going to be easy.
"Beating a team like Rain or Shine three in a row is going to be really, really difficult,"said Cone after the series opener.
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"We wanted a leg up on this series and we did. (It) doesn't guarantee us anything. Hopefully we'd come with a 0-0 mentality on Wednesday."
Rain or Shine actually got swept in similar series twice before, to the now-defunct Sta. Lucia Realty in the 2009 Philippine Cup and Magnolia, then known as Star, in last year's Commissioner's Cup.
E-Painters coach Caloy Garcia said his team must bring extra effort if only to extend the duel to a deciding game.
"I just told the players, it's not yet over. We're playing one of the best teams in the league, but we're still keeping everything positive right now," stated Garcia.
One specific area Garcia called out is his team's interior defense as Ginebra emerged with a plus-8 advantage off points in the paint.
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Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson was also a particular thorn on the side of Rain or Shine as he notched 14 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Those boards were equal to the combined total of the E-Painters' main frontliners in Beau Belga, Jay Washington and Raymond Almazan.
"I thought Scottie was phenomenal all day long," gushed Cone. "He hit big shots, hit big rebounds, defended extremely well. He was shockingly good. He is always good but he was shockingly good today.
"He kind of epitomizes what we hoped we'd be as a team, hard work and desire. He was extra special tonight."
His own crew must at least emulate such work ethics, admitted Garcia.
"We have to be more physical," stated Garcia. "Scottie has been physical on the boards and if the referees are allowing that, I told them, then we have to do the same thing. To be more physical against them."
it was not Thompson alone, however, as all the other Ginebra starters finished with at least 13 points each. Joe Devance laced his 15-point, five-assist performance with five straight points that sparked the Kings' decisive 12-0 run from a 70-69 count.
Such a meltdown is a big no-no for Rain or Shine this time around.
"Whatever happens, we just have to fight hard. Hindi naman kami bibitaw," stressed Garcia. (NC)
