Painters welcome ‘test of character’ win over Hotshots

MANILA, Philippines — It may have been a tough win for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, but it is what the team needs as they try to go deep in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

Rain or Shine had to grind it out and climb out of a 12-point hole to grab a victory over the Magnolia Hotshots Saturday evening, 91-82.

This helped the Elasto Painters return to their winning ways. They won their first seven games before getting outlasted by the Phoenix Fuel Masters in their previous game.

After Saturday’s game, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said that such wins are “tests of character” that will sharpen them when the going gets tough.

“This is a tough win for us. We had to tough it out to win this game. So we like those kinds of wins. Those are tests of character,” he told reporters.

“So, magandang panalo ito para sa amin. Tsaka nalapit kami ito sa nine wins na kailangan namin,” he added.

Rain or Shine shot just 38.1% from the field, including 7-of-32 from deep, as they faced off against the defensive-minded Hotshots.

They trailed by 12 in the second quarter, 26-38, before turning on the jets and getting the lead in the second half.

The nine-point lead at the end of the game was their biggest edge of the contest.

“Yun ang masarap na panalo. Yung nag-struggle ka, not an easy win. You just try to find ways to compensate for your… siguro, mga disadvantages namin sa laro,” Guiao said.

Meanwhile, the coach emphasized that the team may have been lax due to the undefeated 7-0 record, and when it was blemished, their downward spiral may have continued.

Good thing, it wasn’t.

“My feeling was we were kind of relaxing with our record. Naka 7-0 kami. Tapos natalo kami. Iniisip ko baka magtuloy-tuloy kung hindi namin ma-stop yung downward spiral namin. So it's a good win,” he said.

“At the same time, these guys a couple of conferences ago would not have won a game like that. Pero ngayon alam na nilang paano ipanalo yung ganong klaseng laro.”

The game also had chippy moments late, as Guiao and Magnolia team consultant Erick Arejola had a spat.

The heated moment came with Rain or Shine already leading late, and Jaylen Johnson danced after a slam.

“I was trying to protect my players because he was trying to intimidate my players. I had to do something. So yun lang,” Guiao said.

“Magkakaibigan naman kami pero pagdating sa laro, kanya-kanyang protect tayo sa mga interests natin. Gano'n din gagawin niya pag ginawa ko yun sa player niya.”

Rain or Shine is now holding an 8-1 win-loss record, while Magnolia dropped to a 4-5 slate.

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