Gian Mamuyac and the rest of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are eager to reach the Last Dance after four straight semifinal appearances in the PBA.
“Nakakasawa nang matalo sa semis.”
That would be Rain or Shine’s battle cry heading into the 50th season of the PBA.
Young Elasto Painters guard Gian Mamuyac had this to say after the team reached the semifinals four straight times last season, but just couldn’t break through.
“'Yon naman ang goal namin palagi. Sabi nga ni coach Yeng (Guiao) sa’min na since na-reach namin ang semis four straight times, anything less than that, we count as a disappointment,” said Mamuyac.
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Its latest debacle in the penultimate stage was at the hands of TNT, which finished their best-of-seven series in six games.
Though the Elasto Painters significantly improved since the last time the two teams met, the Yeng Guiao-mentored squad just didn’t have enough to prevail over the Tropang 5G.
But with the addition of a veteran guard in Stanley Pringle, things are looking up for the Elasto Painters.
“So, hopefully, makaabot sa finals naman, malagpasan naman namin ang semis kasi nakakasawa nang matalo sa semis,” he said.
“Sana makalagpas kami sa semis. And, eventually, win a championship for coach Yeng.”
Rain or Shine last captured a championship in 2016, with Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood as the only holdovers from that squad.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports)