Sizzling Painters eye 7th straight win, clash with Kings

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine, the league’s hottest team on a six-game romp, tries to make it seven in a row for an outright semifinal passage when it goes up against Barangay Ginebra in the penultimate play date of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

Unbeaten for a month now, the Elasto Painters shoot for a spot in the Top Two while the Kings gear up for their coming quarterfinals grind as they slug it out at 5:15 p.m.

A loss will relegate the E-Painters to third or fourth place, requiring the Asian Coating Inc. franchise to go through the quarterfinals.

Like Ginebra, NLEX braces up for the quarters as the Road Warriors tangle with Manny Pacquiao and his Kia Motors team at 3 p.m. This is the Sorento’s farewell game in the season-opening all-Filipino tourney.

“We’re on a six-game streak but it we lose Sunday, that streak would be worthless. So we have to cap it off with a win,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao moments after they carved out a crucial 98-95 win over the Alaska Milk Aces Friday.

“We’re not yet there but this win is a good jump-off for greater motivation to win (against Ginebra),” Guiao added.

After a scrambling season start, the E-Painters cranked up and strung up successive wins over Barako Bull, Globalport, Meralco, NLEX, Purefoods Star and Alaska Milk to shoot to the top of the leader board.

But the Kings want to stop the E-Painters and build their own momentum going into the post-elims play.

“It’s a big game for both of us with regards placing,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso.

“We need to be great in our transition defense. They will push and push and push. Rain or Shine scores quickly off misses, made baskets and turnovers. And no matter what, (the game against Rain or Shine) will prepare us for the playoffs,” Cariaso also said.

Cariaso and his troops have just snapped a three-game losing skein with a 101-92 tripping of the Alaska Milk Aces on Tuesday.

It’s a key win that guaranteed the Kings of a spot in the Top Six and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Ginebra has been on a roller-coaster ride in the tourney, sporting a 6-4 record going to its match versus RoS.

Hoping for a Ginebra win are Alaska and Talk n Text.

Losses by Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer in their closing games in the elims enabled Alaska and Talk n Text to steal the automatic semis berths.