September 19, 2017

Garcia urges E-Painters to raise game in all-important match with Alaska

THERE'S nothing more dangerous than playing a team with nothing to lose and Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia is all too well aware of this.

That explains why Garcia wants his Elasto Painters to raise the level of their game a notch when they take on Alaska Wednesday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Currently running sixth, Rain or Shine needs a win to keep alive its hopes of inclusion among the top four teams which will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

For its part, Alaska is already eliminated from the race for the top eight qualifiers for the next round but would like nothing better than to go out with a bang.

"We are eliminated but we will compete and honor the game," stated Aces coach Alex Compton.

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"Rain or Shine is tough and playing well but we will do our best to give them playoff-level basketball."

That is precisely what Garcia is wary of. "Alaska isn't a team that you can relax against," he said.

"We have to come out with the mentality of wanting to win rather than just playing the game if we want to win."

That attitude was displayed by the E-Painters when tye strung together three straight wins but has not been as apparent since when they dropped two of their last three matches.

For Garcia's charges to prevail and get enough of a momentum going into their final elims match against Blackwater on Saturday, the likes of J'Nathan Bullock, Jericho Cruz, Raymond Almazan and Chris Tiu must rise to the occasion.

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Compton, on the other hand, will be relying mostly on LaDontae Henton, Calvin Abueva, Jayvee Casio and Vic Manuel.