The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will put their clean record on the line this Friday when they take on the winless Phoenix Fuel Masters. Will Rain or Shine make it four in a row? Or, will the Fuel Masters pull off an upset (with or without an import)?
Catch this game live on Friday, August 30 at 5:00 pm, Manila time.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (3-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Adrian Nocum
- Francis Escandor
- Andrei Caracut
- Beau Belga
- Aaron Fuller
Who’s stopping the Elasto Painters? Rain or Shine ripped apart the NLEX Road Warriors last Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with Jhonard Clarito leading the way. Clarito went off for 24 points on a perfect 9/9 shooting from the field in a 124-105 victory for Yeng Guiao’s squad that improved to 3-0 to start the conference. The other Rain or Shine victims thus far are the Blackwater Bossings (110-97) and the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (73-64). Rain or Shine already.
Apart from Clarito, Gian Mamuyac provided immense contribution for ROS, as he came off the bench and fired 22 points. Import Aaron Fuller, meanwhile, had a 20-20 game (21 points and 20 rebounds).
It seems that ROS locals and Fuller are on the same page, and it’s spelling trouble for the Elasto Painters’ opponents. And with the possibility of Phoenix playing this Friday without an import, one can only imagine Fuller and company already licking their chops.
Phoenix Fuel Masters (0-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- Tyler Tio
- RJ Jazul
- Ken Tuffin
- JJ Alejandro
- Jason Perkins
Phoenix could go to war this Friday at a great disadvantage, as the Fuel Masters scramble to find a new import. The Fuel Masters split ways with original import Jayveous McKinnis after back-to-back losses to start the season. In their most recent outing, the Fuel Masters suffered a 100-95 loss to NLEX last Sunday. Before that, Phoenix fell prey to the San Miguel Beermen, 111-107.
A few bounces landing their way could have meant a 2-0 start for the Fuel Masters, as they have lost by just a combined margin of nine points in their first two games. But it’s going to be tough for Phoenix to take down a rampaging Rain or Shine unit without an import. It tried to bring in former Oklahoma State Cowboys star Le’Bryan Nash, but he was found to be over the PBA’s height limit for this conference.
If nothing else, former UAAP Most Valuable Player RR Garcia is coming off a good game and could be a focal point for Phoenix’s attack this Friday. Garcia had 18 points with two 4-pointers against NLEX.
Picks
Spread: Rain or Shine (-7.5)
Over/Under: Over (213.0)
