Reset serves Painters well, with import eyeing unfinished business

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, armed with new imports, pressed the reset button on his team’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup campaign after opening the tournament with four straight losses.

The result of a mild success: A victory over the humble Blackwater, 122-117, Sunday night.

“Coach said it’s a clean slate. 0-0 at this point. 1-0 now,” said Greg Smith II, the original selection for the 2016 Governor’s Cup who was just a hairline above the season high limit and replaced by Dior Lowhorn.

Smith is a replacement import this time, traded in the reset and wants his teammates to take advantage.

“[Guiao] said he wants to reset everything that happened before and you know make this a new opportunity for everyone,” the American forward told reporters as he left the Mall of Asia Arena.

Smith had been inactive for about a year and a half after the birth of her first child. The last time he was competitive was during the ESPN Basketball Tournament almost six months ago. But the chance to finally come through for Rain or Shine and straighten it is just too difficult to pass up on, he said.

“I was not particularly looking to play soon just because [my son] very young. But this opportunity is something I really want to do because, as I said, in 2016, I want to be here and this is where I feel comfortable. I am here now. Hopefully, we can win some games now.

Smith’s return couldn’t be more timely for Guiao and crew. At 1-4, the Painters still have six games left on the schedule and some of them are winnable.

A different task

Next for 1-4 Rain or Shine is Terrafirma, then Magnolia, NLEX, then Phoenix. The rugged crew then took on NorthPort before ending the elimination round against San Miguel Beer.

Smith knows that it is a very different task to lead a team that is trying to turn around the campaign than to help them add to their second PBA crown – their original mission almost seven years ago.

But he is adamant that both jobs carry the same amount of pressure.

“I still think it’s the same pressure. It’s a proud program. I know Gabe [Norwood] it’s a winner, Beau [Belga] it’s a winner. These guys want to win,” Smith said. “I feel the same pressure as when I came into 2016: Go ahead and try to get us into the playoffs and make things happen.”

“I feel like—especially with the locals we have, if we can get there [to these playoffs]we can beat people and make the game at least,” he said. INQ

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