The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (ROS) is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the TNT Tropang Giga at 4:00 PM on November 10, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Days after Rain or Shine snapped its three-game losing run at the expense of the struggling Blackwater Elite; the current rank 8 team is now hanging on the slim possibility of grasping one of the twice-to-beat incentives heading into the quarterfinals.
With a 5-4 win-lose record, a win today and tomorrow will give them a fighting chance for the aforementioned playoff incentive. Howbeit, for the Caloy Garcia-coached team to make that happen, they must emulate what wonders they did when they squashed the Elite the last time out.
Leaning on a third-quarter breakaway, the E-Painters secure a crucial win.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila ang nawala sa amin is yung enjoyment of the game after that break,” said coach Caloy Garcia. “After our loss against NLEX, medyo nagkaroon siguro kami ng konting doubts, and I told them that we have to grind it out in these last few games because it’s compounding us.”
It won’t be easy for the Elasto Painters, though. Rey Nambatac sprained his right ankle during their previous match and was forced to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines. Similarly, James Yap was forced to stay on the sidelines due to a sore left calf.
In contradiction to ROS, however, Tropang Giga wants to avoid the quirks or complications of logjams.
The Bong Ravena-coached team and his troops go for a crucial win later to close out their eliminations campaign at 8-3 for a sure Top Four finish and the coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA restart.
“Top Four is the big deal. We’ll go for it,” said Ravena.
Coming from a huge win the last time out over the always dangerous Meralco Bolts, 92-79, TNT’s morale is surely skyrocketing right now.
Talking about boosted confidence, Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario, after their bleak and sub-par performances that contributed to TNT’s defeats, finally manage to score points, with the former topping all scorers with 27 points.
Furthermore, expect nothing but an insuppressible Jayson Castro and Rarray Parks from the tipoff to the final buzzer.
Will the Elasto Painters complicate things even more, or will the former-league-leader Tropang Giga, now second-running, tied to Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, secure one of the desired twice-to-beat incentives? Let’s see!