Elasto Painters try again vs resurgent Llamados

MANILA, Philippines - For Rain or Shine, it’s now or never.

The Elasto Painters try to finish off the B-Meg Llamados in Game Six of the PBA Governors Cup finals tonight or face the specter of doing it the hard way in a Game Seven where odds and momentum could turn to the other side. 

Stopped in Game Five, the Elasto Painters are determined to get back to work and not let slip away a coveted championship that had seemed to be in their hands last Sunday. 

Gametime is at 6:45 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Despite last Wednesday’s loss, the E-Painters are still up, 3-2, but the Llamados are buoyed up by their 91-81 Game Five win, giving them the chance to stretch the best-of-seven series to full distance.

Another big boost for the Llamados was the decision of league commissioner Chito Salud just affirming – not upgrading – the flagrant foul penalty 1 (FFP1) incurred by James Yap in sneaking in a punch on Jireh Ibanes Wednesday night.

Salud likewise affirmed the FFP1 called on Ibanes and Beau Belga in the same game. The three players were meted fines of P5,000 each.

Spared of FFP2 that would have resulted to an outright ejection, Yap got away with a personal conference best of 30 points, and the Llamados survived a second do-or-die game in the season-ending tourney and fifth in the last two conferences.

Expect Yap and the rest of the Llamados to pour it all out as they try to force a winner-take-all setto.

A veteran coach with five titles under his belt, Guiao, however remains upbeat despite their Game Five defeat.

“Na-delay lang, pero amin din iyan (Our championship run was just delayed. But it’s still ours for the taking),” said Guiao.

But he stressed they will have a solid chance at finishing off the Llamados if they can improve their rebounding and their shot selection.