NORTHPORT is expected to rack up a second win in as many games when it tangles with Rain or Shine Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
That is, if the Elasto Painters fail to learn from the bitter lessons exposed right in their first game and, at the same time, solve one big problem.
Despite the pre-conference departure of center JM Calma, the Batang Pier got off to a fine start in the season-ending tournament by hurdling Terrafirma, 97-75, last Saturday.
Reduced to a veritable doughnut without a legitimate paint patroller, Rain or Shine could not mimic NorthPort's act and bowed to NLEX, 95-109, later the same evening.
"'Yung malalaki problema. Pero tingnan natin, baka magawan ng remedy," said E-Painters coach Yeng Guiao, referring to his team's frontline that continues to be without Beau Belga, Luis Villegas and possibly Keith Datu.
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Belga would continue to be sidelined by vertigo, while Villegas is currently still in the rehabilitation phase after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his knee.
For his part, Datu suffered a right calf injury right in the second quarter of the NLEX game. "Tinitingnan namin kung p'wedeng ihabol, pero ang tingin ko malabo," said Guiao of his 6-of-8 center-forward.
Being left with just natural forwards Santi Santillan and Caelan Tiongson to mainly man the middle is just half of Guiao's concerns as he also cited his side's spotty defense against the Road Warriors.
"Tingin ko doon kami nagkulang. They shot 61 percent from three points and 55 percent from two points. Ibig sabihin lang noon kulang ang effort namin sa defense," Guiao pointed out.
"Iyun ang ina-address namin sa practice. We're hoping na medyo umayos naman iyon pagdating ng Wednesday against NorthPort. Ang problema nga lang namin, maliit kami. Wala kaming malalaki against NorthPort, e ang hahaba at ang lalaki noon."
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Main focus of Rain or Shine's defense would be on how to contain Arvin Tolentino, the Best Player of the last Commissioner's Cup whose 19 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists led NorthPort over Terrafirma.
"Itong si Arvin pinaghahandaan naman ng lahat ng teams iyan. It wouldn't be a surprise if he plays well," noted Guiao. "It's just up to you now to find a defensive scheme against him." (NC)
