Rain or Shine shoots crucial win vs Air21

Games today (MOA Arena)

4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Air21

6:30 p.m. – San Mig Coffee vs Barako Bull

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine seeks to enhance its bid for the Top Two while Air21 tries to boost its playoffs aspiration as these two red-hot teams clash at the resumption of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay today.

On-and-off San Mig Coffee and slumping Barako Bull collide in the other game of the Easter Sunday presentation of the PBA mid-season tourney.

“This is a big game against Air21. First, we want to keep pace with Alaska. Second, a win will set the stage for our rematch on Friday against Alaska for the No. 1 spot in the team standings,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“If we want to get a crack for the Top Two in the playoffs, we have to win this game against Air21,” Guiao added.

Air21 should not be taken lightly, coming off a franchise-record fourth straight victory that pushed the team to joint fourth with Barangay Ginebra, San Mig Coffee, Talk n Text and Meralco at 5-5.

The Express have been in their most competitive form with Michael Dunigan a great force in the middle, Mike Cortez providing stability at the backcourt and KG Canaleta, Mark Isip, Wynne Arboleda and Bitoy Omolon also making an impact.

Coach Franz Pumaren and his troops are after another victory that will guarantee the team of a playoff shot at a quarterfinals berth.

Pumaren, however, said they face a tough task against the Rain or Shine squad that is two full games in front of them at 7-3.

“We need a collective effort to slow them down. Or we may need to play our best game,” said Pumaren.

The Elasto Painters are also on a run, pulling off a huge 116-85 win over the Talk n Text Tropang Texters Sunday.

“I was aware that we haven’t beaten them this season,” said Guiao. “But I didn’t think of it as a factor. It’s just not their night.”

The Elasto Painters are performing well even as import Bruno Sandov is having a hard time staying away from fouls.

“That’s a concern,” said Guiao on Sandov’s penchant at getting into foul-trouble situation early.

Sandov faces Dunigan in an elite match-up in the RoS-Air21 game.

The Mixers also go for an outright playoff crack at a quarters entry versus the Energy Cola.

Denzel Bowles churned out a giant double-double game with 30 points and 23 rebounds and Marc Pingris came through in the clutch as San Mig Coffee withstood frontrunner Alaska Milk, 84-83, in a furious battle on March 23.

Barako Bull is at ninth place at 3-7 after having lost all its last six games.