MANILA, Philippines – Coach Yeng Guiao was ejected from the game on technical fouls even before the half but it didn’t stop rampaging Rain or Shine from fashioning out a third straight blowout victory, clobbering Shopinas.com, 96-75, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Guiao’s exit with 3:12 left in the second quarter seemed to even fire up the Elasto Painters, pulling away from a 36-34 count en route to the 21-point rout coming after their 36-point lashing of Alaska Milk on Oct. 23 and a 44-point bashing of Meralco Sunday.
The Elasto Painters firmed up their hold of the lead with a 6-1 win-loss card while handing the Clickers a seventh loss in as many games.
“We’re overachieving. We didn’t think that we could be on top at this point. What we only thought was that we could give any team a good game,” said Guiao.
“We’re on top and we’re playing well. Hopefully, it continues. But in the PBA, if you let your guard down, you easily lose that gain. We’ll work to stay sharp and aggressive, and see how far it takes us,” Guiao added.
The volatile Rain or Shine mentor expressed remorse he was not able to coach the final half.
“It’s unfortunate but I did something wrong and I had to pay for it,” said Guiao, thrown out of the game after committing a second technical infraction by shoving Shopinas player Ogie Menor for taunting the Rain or Shine team right on their bench.
Curiously, Menor was just slapped a fine of P3,000 by commissioner Chito Salud for an unsportsmanlike conduct in their last game versus B-Meg.
Both Guiao and Menor were issued a technical foul. Guiao was ejected as he committed an earlier technical infraction.
“Ang pagkakamali ko eh pumatol ako sa sira ulo. Mas sira ulo siguro ako,” Guiao said in jest.
Incidentally, Guiao was also ejected on technical fouls in their game versus Alaska, and the Elasto Painters won big just the same.
“It’s a testimony to the system. I think it’s already ingrained to the players. The players know what to do and besides coach Caloy Garcia is an accomplished coach himself,” said Guiao.
Sweet-shooting forward Jeff Chan delivered a career-best 28 points and fueled their breakaway with 17 in the third period.
The former FEU stalwart knocked in four triples, including two to cap a mighty run in the third quarter that opened a 70-49 bulge for the Painters.
“Chan is the most consistent of the team offensively. But everyone has each role, and everyone is delivering and cooperating. We go to whoever is hot on a given night,” said Guiao.
The Clickers fought the Elasto Painters on even terms in the first half but faded away in the third quarter, outscored by one player in Chan, 10-17.