ON even terms or on the hill?
Rain or Shine is bent on hammering out back-to-back victories and drawing level with TNT after a 0-2 start in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals.
But The Tropang Giga are fixed on bouncing back and securing Win No. 3 on their second try to move one victory away from the coveted ticket to the Last Dance.
With such motivation, the Elasto Painters and the Tropang Giga clash Wednesday night in pivotal Game 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. with the protagonists expected to engage in another tooth-and-nail after fighting three tight matches that could have gone either way.
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TNT, the reigning Governors' Cup titlist, emerged victorious in Games 1 and 2, 88-84 and 93-91, then ROS finally summoned the endgame poise to break through, 103-98.
"Yung decision-making namin sa endgame in the first two games, ayun yung naging problema. Nagawan namin ng paraan 'yun kaya nanalo kami (Game 3), maganda yung decision-making namin nung end game," said Adrian Nocum, the Best Player of the Game awardee when the E-Painters got on the board and avoided a 0-3 deficit in the race-to-four contest.
ROS coach Yeng Guiao expressed belief a long series against a TNT side that's grappling with the absence of injured veteran guard Jayson Castro (patella tendon tear on his right knee) will favor his youth-laden squad.
"The longer it (series) takes, the better for us. Iyun lang ang chance namin siguro na pag naging short series ito sa kanila na to, eh," said Guiao.
"Also, we had a really big break. Of course nobody would wish it on anyone, malaking bagay yung injury ni Jayson. Pero when it comes to this point in the playoffs this is really 'break-down time.' Malaki talaga chance ng may mag-breakdown sa mga players."
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He said the Elasto Painters themselves were bit by the injury bug hard when they previously battled TNT in the Governors' Cup semis as big man Caelan Tiongson sat it out due to calf strain. Minus the 6-foot-5 bruiser, the E-Painters lost that particular duel, 4-1. (OL)
