E-Painters seek shareof lead versus Texters

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Meralco

7:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Cup title protagonists Rain or Shine and Talk n Text renew their rivalry today with the former seeking a share of the lead and the latter going for solo fourth place at the halfway mark of their elimination-round stints in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In their most recent meeting, the Tropang Texters completed a thorough four-game sweep of the Elasto Painters to make history as the first team in three decades to rule the Philipppine Cup three in a row.

Forward to present, the Elasto Painters are on a remarkable run with prized reinforcement Bruno Sundov while the Tropang Texters are still looking to rediscover old chemistry with returning import Donnell Harvey.

They play at 7:30 p.m. with the E-Painters out to tie the Alaska Milk Aces in the lead at 6-1 while the Texters are out to boost their stock in the middle of the chart at 4-3.

Meralco also guns for a fourth win in seven games while Barako Bull hopes to regain .500 mark at 4-4 as they collide in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser.

“It will be a tough challenge for us because they haven’t missed a beat since last conference while we have been struggling,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

“We will just try to take another step to catch up with the leaders. The key for us is to have good transition and three-point defense especially after their post-ups for their import,” Black added.

“Shooting for solo fourth, the incentive is strong enough to compel us to do our best,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio for their own bid.

“Lady luck smiled on us in our last two games. We are not complaining. I believe that the more you work hard, the more you are going to get lucky,” added Gregorio whose wards pulled of nail-biters over Globalport and Air21 in their last two outings.

While the Bolts are fresh from their first back-to-back victories, the Energy Cola set out coming from three successive defeats.

Meanwhile, the E-Painters have not lost a game since barely dropping their conference debut against the Alaska Milk Aces on endgame lapses, thus, they give the Talk n Text coach much concern.

Chris Tiu and Gabe Norwood hit timely three-pointers to break Globalport’s solid zone defense at the finish and propel the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to a fifth straight win with a 103-93 drubbing of the Batang Pier Friday.

Tiu and Norwood combined for five treys, including one each at crunch time, enabling the Elasto Painters to stop the momentum of Globalport’s mighty charge from a 20-point deficit in the third period.