PBA: For the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, youth movement is the future

Rain or Shine might have been swept in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series against the San Miguel Beermen, but for the Elasto Painters, the future looks bright.

The young Rain or Shine team finished fifth in the elimination round with six wins and five losses and ousted TNT in the quarterfinals, 2-1.

Going against a powerhouse team in SMB, Rain or Shine was unable to get a win but made sure the Beermen were challenged until the final buzzer.

"Masaya kami at malungkot at the same time. Nakarating kami sa semifinals sa loob ng mahabang panahon, malaking achievement na 'yun. Alam naman namin na malakas ang San Miguel, alam namin na kaya talunin sa series. Umasa kami na maka-isa, dalawa. Sayang, kaya nandun 'yung disappointment, may chance kami manalo eh," Guiao bared after their loss in Game 4 last Friday.

The Elasto Painters came close. In Game 1, came up short by just three points, 101-98. In Game 4, they led by as many as 19 points before San Miguel took over late to win by just seven.

"We could've been ending it in a more positive note kung nakaisa or dalawa kami, 'yun lang ang pinanghihinayangan namin."

However, not all is lost for Guiao as his young Rain or Shine core is just starting to show what it could do.

"Marami kaming natutunan sa series. As I said, we'll come back next conference as a better team," Guiao declared.

"Alam namin ang mga kulang namin, alam namin kung saan ang strengths namin. In the offseason, we will try to improve in those aspects, trying to build a contender team," the fiery mentor added.

For Guiao, the future of Rain or Shine will revolve around developing the six or seven young players which all experienced their first playoffs heartbreak, adding around two more from the upcoming PBA Rookie Draft, and keeping veterans Gabe Norwood and Beau Belga around for guidance.

"If we want to go deeper sa future conferences, we still need a few pieces na lang sa buildup namin. Actually, mabilis nga 'yung improvement ng process namin. I think that's the takeaway. Ma-experience nila as a young team kung paano dumaan sa ganito and what it takes to beat a team like San Miguel."

Guiao himself is happy with his young core's performance with the likes of Gian Mamuyac, Santi Santillan, Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, Anton Asistio, and Jhonard Clarito shining in different aspects of the game from time-to-time, and Keith Datu's potential yet to be fully unleashed.

"These are guys who we we can keep together for the next three or four years. Imagine mo, tapos lumabas pa 'yung galing nila, puwede ka mag-contend talaga," said Guiao.

'Learning experience'

Mamuyac, who posted the second-best scoring performance of his career in Game 4 with 30 points, sees the series as an opportunity for the young team to learn.

"Sayang, at least learning experience for everyone, lalo na bata kami. Nakapasok din kami sa semis, so malaking bagay for us. Absorb lang namin lahat ng lessons and hopefully come back stronger next conference," said the 25-year old Mamuyac.

"Sayang, pero at least na-prove namin na kaya namin marating 'to and sana maadik kami sa feeling na 'to and sana marating namin every conference and higitan pa namin," he added.

Caracut, meanwhile, had his own taste of ups and downs this season. He may received his own share of tough love from Guiao, but he can also be crucial for Rain or Shine's offense.

"'Yung accountability, kailangan maging responsible ka eh. Marami rin akong adjustments, but marami rin akong kailangan i-improve din. Knowing Coach Yeng, sa mga sinasabi niya talagang pinu-push ka niya and ako, namo-motivate ako lalo na maitama ang mali ko at ma-improve ko ang dapat i-improve," Caracut said.

Rookie Nocum, on the other hand, relished his first season in the league, but vows to be better when they come back.

"'Yung rookie season ko, para sa akin sobrang ganda," Nocum said as Rain or Shine made it to the playoffs in both conferences. "Tingin ko may magandang patutunguhan namin. Sabi nga ni Coach, nasa process pa kami. Ayun nga, tuloy-tuloy lang."

However, for the Mapua University product, their youth could be something that works against them so they need to be cautious.

"Kailangan huwag na namin isipin na bata kami or ano kasi kapag once humarap kami sa big players, kailangan makipag-compete talaga."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News