Rain or Shine delays import search, set to face NorthPort with all-Filipino lineup
IF TRUE, NorthPort will soon be presented with a much-appreciated gift.
Batang Pier must still put in a lot of work this Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in the PBA Governors Cup against a Rain or Shine team that is widely predicted to play an all-Filipino lineup for the first time since the tournament began.
Unable to reach coach Yeng Guiao for comment, Elasto Painters insiders say the team has delayed plans to bring in a replacement import until after the game. It’s a 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
On March 17, after facing NorthPort, Rain or Shine will finish the 11-game eliminations against San Miguel Beer.
One insider said, “We will wait for the outcome muna siguro kung ano mangyayari sa Saturday before we pick up the import. But when we play NorthPort, we’ll be playing as an all-Filipino team once again.
Another team official stated that Rain or Shine began their search for a new prospect after it was discovered that Jordan Tolbert, who was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Greg Smith II after he got injured, was too tall, resulting in the E-Painters having to play without a reinforcement in their 106-114 loss to Phoenix Super LPG last Wednesday.
At that point, everything clicked into place. According to the second source, the team is actively looking for a replacement and is considering Dar Tucker, who played for Jordan in the most recent World Cup windows. “Kaysa daw kumuha kami agad na sure namang hindi na aabot in time for the NorthPort game,” the first source said.
Since NorthPort is tied for ninth place in the standings with Rain or Shine and Terrafirma, this is excellent news for all three teams.
If the Batang Pier beat the E-Painters and then beat TNT again on March 15, their playoff hopes would be stoked and they would face off for the final quarter final spot.
NorthPort’s ideal scenario is contingent on the Fuel Masters also coming out of the elimination rounds with a 4–4 record.
The Batang Pier have to work extra hard to keep their season alive after a dismal 0-6 start to the season-ending conference. The E-Painters are not going down without a fight, as evidenced by their 60-47 second-half outscoring of the Fuel Masters in Phoenix.
“Positive pa naman si coach Yeng, pati players,” the first reliable source revealed. “The home team has been performing admirably, but we’d like to see four strong quarters from them instead of two.”
Final Thoughts
It appears that Rain or Shine (ROS) will be playing an all-Filipino lineup for the first time in the PBA Governors Cup tournament against NorthPort, who still does not have an imported player. Although it is unclear why ROS delayed plans to bring in a replacement import until after the game, it seems that they are actively looking for a replacement and considering Dar Tucker.
This is excellent news for NorthPort, ROS, and Terrafirma, who are all tied for ninth place in the standings in the Philippine Cup Betting. If NorthPort beats ROS and TNT, their playoff hopes will be stoked, and they will face off for the final quarter final spot. While coach Yeng and the players are positive, they need to perform four strong quarters instead of two to keep their season alive.