ALTHOUGH the season ended not the way it wanted, Rain or Shine still grew as a team following its PBA Philippine Cup semifinals stint.
Coach Yeng Guiao said the experience of competing at a high level and especially, ranged against no less than the defending champion San Miguel was a great learning process for a young Elasto Painters team moving forward.
The franchise co-owned by Raymund Yu and Terry Que saw an abrupt end to its Season 48 campaign after being swept by the Beermen in their best-of-seven series.
The Elasto Painters blew a 19-point third quarter lead to lose a 107-100 heartbreaker in Game 4.
Nonetheless, Guiao consoled his team of the many lessons it learned out of the series opposite the reigning and defending champion.
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"Marami kaming natutunan sa series. We will come back next conference as a better team," said Guiao just before leaving the Mall of Asia Arena Friday night.
"Alam namin kung ano pa yung kulang namin. Alam din namin kung saan yung strengths namin. In the offseason, we will try to improve on those aspects as we aim to build a contender team."
Rain or Shine both made the playoffs during the import-spiced Commissioner's Cup and the all-Filipino conference, where it reached the semifinals for the first time in five seasons.
Unfortunately, it crossed path with top seeded and reigning champion San Miguel, which was too talented and too experience for the young Elasto Painters to overcome.
"Nakarating kami ng semifinals for the first time sa mahabang panahon. Malaking achievement na yun. Pagdating dito, alam naman namin na malakas yung San Miguel," said Guiao. "Alam naman namin na mahirap sila talunin sa series. Pero umasa kami na maka-isa, maka-dalawa. Kaya sayang."
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But for the veteran coach, the growth of Rain or Shine as a future contender is just beginning.
"Yung experience, kailangan maramdaman mo at ma-immerse ka sa kung ano ang pakiramdam, preparation, at mga kailangan mo para mag-succeed ka deep in the playoffs na sa tingin ko, yun ang makakapag-pabilis ng improvement ng team namin. We will be a lot better team next conference." (RG)
