Caelan Tiongson (with ball) soars to the ring. —PBA IMAGES
Two teams adjusting to major changes found numerous success Sunday night, with NLEx streaking to a fourth straight win to solidify its hold of the Group A lead within the PBA Governors’ Cup and Rain or Shine slowly rising out of a flat begin to jump out of the underside of Group B.
The Elasto Painters looked like they’ve moved on from the trade that shipped out former captain Gian Mamuyac, who was dealt to Phoenix for draft picks.
“Mamu was such an enormous a part of our team,” said Caelan Tiongson, whose hot shooting sustained Rain or Shine’s bounce-back from a 0-2 start.
“Losing Mamu created a form of a unique air within the gym. He was a loud and hopeful leader for us, Tiongson said after ending with 21 points built around five triples in his team’s 110-99 victory over Barangay Ginebra late Sunday evening on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Discovering themselves
“So it took us a few weeks to actually adjust,” he continued. “And I feel it takes effort from each considered one of our guys. How one person goes to make up for the energy and leadership he brought. So we’re all form of figuring it out now.”
The Road Warriors, meanwhile, discovered so much about themselves after trouncing San Miguel Beer, 110-96, also on Sunday.
NLEx took an early lead after which withstood a Beermen rally to flee with a fourth straight victory while dealing its opponents a primary defeat within the tournament.
And the Road Warriors are doing it despite adjusting to recent coach Jimmy Alapag, who took over the team before the conference began, replacing former head coach Jong Uichico.
The transition has been seamless, it seems, going by NLEx’s 4-0 start. And the win against San Miguel also revealed a part of the team’s character.
“I feel anytime you play a team like San Miguel, with all their championship experience, it’s at all times an incredible test for a young team,” Alapag said after guiding the Road Warriors to the solo lead in Group A.
“I believed we were very resilient, especially within the second half,” said Alapag.
Rain or Shine couldn’t have picked a greater time to assemble a mini-streak of its own.
Urgency
Coach Yeng Guiao’s wards face a tricky stretch—albeit one with enough preparation time squeezed into it—where they face gritty squads Magnolia, Meralco and Phoenix.
The Hotshots and the Bolts could also be struggling to seek out their footing this conference, but they under no circumstances represent a trouble-free task. The Fuel Masters, meanwhile, currently lead Group B with a 3-1 card.
Guiao admitted that dropping their first 4 games forced the Painters right into a sense of urgency that fueled their latest wins.
Phoenix hopes to construct on its hot start when it battles tricky Blackwater on Wednesday in a 5:15 p.m. duel on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Converge, which has also began well this conference, looks to proceed collecting early wins when it faces TNT within the second game.
Converge currently totes a 3-1 record after having its three-game run snapped by San Miguel recently, while TNT is attempting to improve on a 1-2 slate. INQ