Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Yeng Guiao during a game vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings within the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO—Coach Yeng Guiao praised Rain or Shine’s regular resolve in taking Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra.
The Elasto Painters overcame a double-digit deficit to return away with a 115-111 win before 10,412 fans at Ynares Center here on Wednesday despite Guiao’s belief of their underdog status within the best-of-seven affair.
“I’m really happy with the blokes because what we do is show up and compete. Show up and compete,” he said in the course of the postgame press conference.
Rain or Shine got here into the semis having after showing San Miguel Beer the door within the quarterfinals, but was beaten by Ginebra handily in the course of the eliminations.
Ginebra led by 10 within the fourth quarter, but Rain or Shine withstood some big shots from RJ Abarrientos and Justin Brownlee while getting massive contributions from import Jaylen Johnson and Jhonard Clarito, to call a number of.
“To play a team like Ginebra, [with a] GOAT import, GOAT coach, half of the Gilas team, the probable Best Player of the Conference of their team,” Guiao said, referring to Brownlee, coach Tim Cone and RJ Abarrientos.
“And who’re we? We just told the team to simply put up a fight and see how far we are able to go. At the least, we were capable of get Game 1. We got lucky once, let’s see how over and over we are able to get lucky. Let’s see.”
Game 2 is ready Friday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, with Rain or Shine expecting a much harder battle in its bid to go 2-0 within the series.