Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Gian Mamuyac during a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Last season, Rain or Shine reached the semifinals in all three conferences.
While that’s an impressive feat, it also meant the Elasto Painters just didn’t have enough for a finals breakthrough.
READ: PBA: Stanley Pringle signs with Rain or Shine on two-year deal
Gian Mamuyac hopes that changes in the PBA’s golden season.
“Coach Yeng (Guiao) has been telling us that since we reached the semis for straight times, anything less than that may count as a disappointment,” Mamuyac said on Thursday.
“Hopefully, we get to the Finals this time and win this time around. Hopefully.”
Coincidentally, Rain or Shine was sent packing in the semis by the same opponent–TNT–in all three conferences.
ROS forward Caelan Tiongson even said he was “sick of TNT,” after losing to the Tropang 5G in the Philippine Cup Final Four last July.
READ: PBA: Caelan Tiongson ‘sick of TNT’ after latest semis exit
However, the Ateneo product knows it’s more than just figuring out TNT.
It’s about pushing the Elasto Painters back to the Finals stage, somewhere Guiao has made a habit of in the past.
Mamuyac wants to repay Guiao’s trust by helping the squad return to the championship round.
The 26-year-0ld guard hopes the string of semifinals setbacks is enough fuel for him and the whole squad to be hungrier.
“We want to hopefully get past the semis and eventually, win the championship for coach Yeng.”
“Coming off multiple semis, maybe we can build on that and improve what we can improve. It’s been a long offseason so hopefully we use it well to improve as a team.”
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The Painters finished last season with a 31-28 record, including the playoffs.
