Painters, Elite in KO match for last PBA semis berth
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:56:23 +0000
Blackwater and Rain or Shine dispute the last semifinals berth in the deciding third game of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The winner of the 7 p.m. will earn the right to advance to the best-of-five affair against either the NorthPort Batang Pier and San Miguel Beermen in the semis which starts this weekend.
NorthPort and San Miguel were slugging it out for a semis spot at presstime at the Big Dome.
Import Greg Smith’s efforts on both ends enabled Blackwater to hack out a 100-96 win Tuesday night, preventing Rain or Shine from completing a sweep.
Smith, rookie Ray Parks Jr., Mac Belo, Allein Maliksi, Mike DiGregorio and Roi Sumang will be tasked upon by coach Aries Dimaunahan to give Blackwater its first-ever semis berth since the franchise entered as an expansion team in 2014.
“We haven’t achieved yet,” said Dimaunahan. “We still have to work doubly hard because we all that closing out teams is the hardest thing to do in the PBA.
“I hope this win gets us into the right direction and the right frame of mind in playing the next game,” he added.
Rain or Shine, which rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final 92 seconds to escape with an 83-80 win in Game 1, believes its advantage in terms of experience will no longer play a factor in the decider.
“I’m not a believer of the experience factor,” Garcia said. “I think whoever wants it more is gonna count.”
Garcia will bank on rookie Javee Mocon, who had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Beau Belga, Gabe Norwood, Game 1 hero Rey Nambatac and Mark Borboran to eke out a win.
Rain or Shine is seeking its second straight semis appearance and third in the last four conferences. (JONAS TERRADO)