The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will be looking to do a “Terrafirma” in Game 1 of their semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen this Friday. But that is going to be easier said than done, considering the terrifying lineup of the Beermen. Will Rain or Shine pull off an upset? Or, will the Beermen slap Rain or Shine with a loss right away?

Catch this game live on Friday, May 17 at 4:30 pm, Manila time.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (0-0)

Projected Starting Five:

• Andrei Caracut
• Gian Mamuyac
• Gabe Norwood
• Jhonard Clarito
• Keith Datu

Rain or Shine doesn’t have to say it, but they’re the huge underdogs in this upcoming series against the Beermen, who lost just one game in the elimination. Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao went out and said it anyway after his team completed a come-from-behind series win against the TNT Tropang Giga with a 110-109 victory on Wednesday. 

“I think the series is for them to lose. But we will just be there. We will just hang around,” Guiao said after the TNT win (via Tiebreaker Times).  But that’s probably just the veteran and multi-titled coach playing possum in hopes that the Beermen would fall for it. There’s nothing to lose in trying that tactic, anyway. 

As for the tangibles, Rain or Shine has what it takes to pull off an upset in Game 1 just like the Terrafirma Dyip who stunned the Beermen recently in the quarterfinals. Gian Mamuyac and Jhonard Clarito will be entering the Beermen series feeling confident after their heroic performances in the two wins versus TNT. Clarito scored 46 points in those victories, while the Stephen Curry stopper from Ateneo is coming off a 25-point explosion on Wednesday.

San Miguel Beermen (0-0)

Projected Starting Five:

• Chris Ross
• CJ Perez
• Marcio Lassiter
• Rodney Brondial
• June Mar Fajardo

The Beermen look unfair on paper and, believe it or not, on the court as well. San Miguel went 10-1 in the elimination, with its only loss coming in the finale against the Meralco Bolts, probably in part because of fatigue from all the winning they enjoyed. The Beermen also got dropped in Game 1 of their quarterfinals series against Terrafirma, 106-95. They restored normalcy, though, after that, as the traditional PBA powerhouse knocked Terrafirma out with a 110-91 win on Wednesday. 

Junemar Fajardo blasted Terrafirma in the series-clincher for 25 points and 22 rebounds (no typo). Don’t think that he can’t do that again. The seven-time league MVP had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Beermen’s 109-97 win last March. Fajardo, however, is hardly the only player Rain or Shine must be worried about. Terrence Romeo and CJ Perez provide the Beermen with elite options on the perimeter along with Don Trollano, Jericho Cruz, and Marcio Lassiter.

Picks

Spread: San Miguel (-7.5)

Over/Under: Over (213.0)