The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (ROS) is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings at 6:45 PM on November 13, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
With Japeth Aguilar (14.27 points, 6.82 rebounds, and 1.45 assists per game) and LA Tenorio (6.64 points, 2.18 rebounds, 4.18 assists per game) almost back in form, plus the fact that they must be beaten twice in the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Barangay Ginebra seems unbeatable.
But not for the Caloy Garcia-coached Rain or Shine who draw first blood in their first encounter with Ginebra.
Back on October 27, the E-Painters anchored by the determined Beau Belga demolished Gin Kings in a match that stretched to overtime, 85-82. Off the bench, Belga notch a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds on top of four assists and two steals.
Fortunately for Ginebra, who triumphed against the already eliminated cellar-dweller Terrafirma Dyip the last time out, they already learned their lesson, which paved to their 4-1 win-loss record in the latter half of the eliminations.
On the other hand, ROS went 2-4 since their victory and recently coming from a sorry-lose against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, a blow to their chances to clinch the twice-to-beat.
Expect the well-rested Ginebra to rely heavily on Stanley Pringle (18.73 points, 6.36 rebounds, and 3.18 assists per game) and Scottie Thompson (11.45 points, 8.82 rebounds, and 6.36. assists per game).
“The good news is we’re done, so we’ve got a few days to rest. So from this day on, we could use that to go ahead. We don’t know who to prepare for, so it’s all about taking care of ourselves, making sure we get ourselves ready, making sure we understand the pressure of being the No. 1 seed,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone after their last match in the eliminations.
E-Painters’ Belga, along with other veteran players like James Yap, Gabe Norwood, and Rey Nambatac must step up to force a win-or-go-home match this weekend.