This unique conference continues with a clash between two teams who are coming off differing outcomes. This should be another barnburner.
Catch the game tomorrow at 5:00 PM.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-1)
- Rey Nambatac
- Leonard Santillan
- Nick Demusis
- Andre Caracut
- Mark Borboran
The Elasto Painters are looking to make a quick return to the win column. They are on the heels of a tough, 108-107 defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings this past Sunday, where they lost on a go-ahead lay-up with less than four ticks left.
All in all, however, it’s still an encouraging start for RoS. It was their first loss of the conference and they racked up four consecutive victories prior, which is considerably better than their usual starts.
As they move along, we can expect the team to keep relying on the key guys. Rey Nambatac is there leading the charge with 15.2 points and 4.4 assists per game, all while boasting a 40% clip from beyond the arc. Big man Leonard Santillan, meanwhile, is holding the paint down courtesy of registering 11.0 PPG and 8.8 RPG, as well as Nick Demusis (10.6 PPG). Lastly, there’s shooter Anton Asistio, who will be there off-the-bench, providing 12.0 PPG and 3.2 treys per contest on 44% shooting.
The Elasto Painters are averaging 114 PPG in their last two games.
Converge FiberXers (3-3)
- Jeron Teng
- Kevin Racal
- Jerick Balanza
- Justin Arana
- McJour Luib
The FiberXers will head to the court tomorrow with good rhythm and confidence. They have won back-to-back following a rough, 1-3 start to the conference. Both had to feel good as one was a 15-point rout of the TNT Tropang Giga and the other was a 113-111 nail-biter over the San Miguel Beermen. Those are opposite talented opponents.
We should continue seeing Jerick Balanza as the main man. He is averaging a team-leading 15.6 PPG in the conference, and made that clutch layup vs. the Beermen, which won them the contest. Additionally, he’s swishing 2.5 threes on 44.6% shooting.
As always, aiding the sweet-shooting guard is Jeron Teng. He isn’t having the best percentages (30% from three, 41% overall), but he’s at 14.4 PPG so far and he has proven in the past that he can suddenly get it going anytime, so he’ll remain dangerous. Another guard, Alec Stockton, is the third man, and he’s parading all-around numbers of 11.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 6.3 APG alongside 48% shooting from the field.
Converge is putting up 105.5 PPG in its last two outings.
PREDICTION:
Handicap: Rain or Shine (-4.5) wins and covers the spread.
Total: The total goes over 203.
