Wanted: Slump-Stopper

AFTER opening up the PBA Governors’ Cup on a very bright note Rain or Shine has suddenly taken back-to-back hits.

It’s now time for the Elasto Painters to dig deep within themselves and recover their winning mind-set when they tackle fellow freefaller Air21 3:45 p.m. Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Express have also lost two in a row and coach Franz Pumaren knows how bad a skid-stopper is needed or else their bid to join the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals would be jeopardized.

“Must win for us!” said Pumaren, whose team is seeing action for the third time in seven days.

“Tiring week, but we need to get over the hump to stay in the hunt.”

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao practically echoed the sentiment. “This is a very short conference. We can’t afford to be in a slump for too long,” he stated.

The biggest key, added Guiao, is for his charges to rediscover the lethal form that tided them over San Mig Coffee and GlobalPort but lost in big losses to Petron Blaze and Alaska.



“Air21 is as dangerous as any team. But I feel that at this point our worst opponent is ourselves. We have been lacking in resolve in our last two games. We need a change of mentality badly,” added Guiao.

The defending champions went into the Boosters match deprived of three days of practice due to the rains and floods and then collided with the Aces minus injured guard Paul Lee (right ankle sprain).

Lee, who provides Arizona Reid chief support with 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, is set to suit up Saturday.

There should be no excuse this time.

Ditto for Air21, notwithstanding the trade rumors involving ace playmaker Mike Cortez, reportedly set to go to Meralco in exchange for Macmac Cardona.

Cortez has been doing his part for the Express with 8.2 points, 4.25 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game but other than Nino Canaleta (14.75 ppg, 6.25 rpg) no other local has been consistent in propping Zach Graham.

Graham averaged 34.5 points in Air21′s first three games but was held down to a PBA career-low 19 versus Petron Blaze last Wednesday. The result was an 86-112 blowout.

With the likes of Gabe Norwood and Jireh Ibanes set to alternately take turns on Graham, the Express locals must be able to step up. (NC)

Source: http://pba.inquirer.net/29593/wanted-slump-stopper