Yap, Simon, Pingris wary about Rain or Shine’s big guards

MANILA, Philippines – A day removed from winning a grueling best-of-7 semifinal series against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, veterans James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris of the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers all agree that they need much more adjustments against Finals opponents Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Veterans Simon and Pingris all say it’s Rain or Shine’s bigger guards they have to be wary about for the entire series.

“Opposite [from Ginebra] naman yung Rain or Shine kasi big guards naman sila,” Simon said. “For sure hindi kami na kami makakapag-post, baka kami pa ma-postehan.” (Rain or Shine is opposite from Ginebra because they have big guards. For sure we won’t be able to play the post, it may be us who will be played in the post instead.) 

Against Ginebra, whom they defeated in a lopsided Game 7 victory on Wednesday, February 12, San Mig Coffee’s taller and speedy guards had their way on the wings and in the post.

Center Pingris also agreed and singled out Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood as major threats to their much smaller guard lineup.

“Lahat naman kasi sila magagaling eh. Tumatakbo sila, tumatakbo din mga point guard namin,” he explained. “But alam mo mas malalaki yung point guards nila. Experienced si Paul Lee and Gabe (Norwood).

“Doon magkaka (challenge), sa guards,” he admitted.

(All of them are good. They run, our point guards run as well. But you know their point guards are bigger. Paul Lee and Gabe are experienced. That’s the challenge, the guards.)

Not only is Rain or Shine holding the height advantage with their guards, but they’ve also got a very deep bench with Jeff Chan, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, TY Tang, Ryan Arana, Chris Tiu and rookie Jeric Teng–all of whom can light up from deep on any given night.

Add to that the fact that Rain or Shine’s guards have uncanny abilities at the post, while their bigmen, Beau Belga, JR Quinahan and sometimes even rookie Raymond Almazan, can shoot the dagger 3-pointers if need be. 

This kind of versatility and depth, Pingris says, will need plenty of adjustments on the part of the Mixers especially on defense.

“Mas shooter sila (Rain or Shine’s bigmen), baliktad eh,” Pingris explained. “Mas naglalaro yung point guard nila sa ilalim, yung big man nila sa labas. Panibagong adjustment na naman ‘to kung paano yung depensa na gagawin namin.” (They’re more of shooters, it’s the opposite. Their point guards play more underneath while their bigmen play outside. This needs a whole new adjustment like what defense we’re going to do.)

The pressure will only pile on to the Mixers more as they have had only a day to practice, study game footage, map out strategies and recuperate as Game 1 of the Finals starts on Friday, February 14.

“Yung advantage nila fresh sila and marami din yung rotation nila,” the 33-year old Simon admitted, noting that good rotation will keep them afloat against the fresher legs of Rain or Shine, who wrapped up their semifinal series against the Petron Blaze Boosters in 5 games. (Their advantage is they’re fresh and they have a deep rotation.)

“Kahit sino pinapasok sa kanila talagang binibigay din nila yung best nila. So I hope maganda din yung rotation namin para ma-match din namin yung energy nila,” Simon added. (Whoever comes in for them really gives it their best. So I hope we have good rotation so we can match their energy.)

For Pingris, who has been a workhorse for the Mixers the entire semifinals with averages of 12.43 points, 7.29 rebounds and 1.14 blocks, per pba-online.net, chooses not to mind the fatigue. He says their Game 7 semifinals experience will come in handy in what is also expected to be a long Finals affair.

“Hindi naman sobrang pagod pero mas fresh talaga sila. Mas napaghandaan nila,” Pingris, 32, said. “Pero itong fatigue na ‘to madadala din namin ‘to sa Finals eh, yung experience namin.” (We’re not too tired but they’re much fresher. They were able to prepare. But we can take this fatigue to the Finals, this experience.) 

Meanwhile, Yap, who starred and took over for the Mixers in Game 7 with 30 points on 7 triples, adds that physicality will be on a whole other level for Rain or Shine in the Finals. 

“Physicality. Kailangan paghandaan namin yun. Itong championship na ‘to kailangan paghandaan mo katawan mo, talagang bugbugan,” Yap said. (Physicality. We have to be ready for that. Our bodies must be ready for this championship, it will be rough.)

Yap, who turns 32 on Saturday, also stresses that it’s their experience that will carry them through to the finish line. He says the Finals is a different element altogether, which means everybody will be playing differently.

“Pag dating kasi sa finals talagang walang gusto magpatalo dito,” he said. “Mahirap makaabot sa Finals. Masaya ‘tong laban na ‘to dahil alam naman natin Rain or Shine, hindi rin tutupi yan.” (When it comes to the Finals nobody will relent. It’s hard to reach the Finals. This match-up will be fun because we know Rain or Shine won’t just fold up.)

This championship series for Rain or Shine means trying to capture the franchise’s second title. Paul Lee sees the series as a way to redeem himself after he missed their last Finals match-up due an injury in Game 2 of the 2012 Governors’ Cup. And for Painters head coach Yeng Guiao, it also means getting his first all-Filipino conference title.

For San Mig Coffee, on the other hand, this Finals series means a shot at redemption against the team that beat them in 7 games for the 2012 Governors’ Cup. It also means a chance for Mixers head coach Tim Cone to surpass the 15 titles of legendary coach Baby Dalupan and to win back-to-back titles with the San Mig Coffee franchise. 

If there is anything the two-time MVP Yap is confident about heading into the Finals, it’s their team’s character, which only continued to grow and mature throughout the conference after a 1-5 start. 

“Ito yung masarap sa team na ‘to,” he said. “Pag dating sa mga do-or-die talagang hindi sumusuko.” (What’s great about this team is when it comes to do-or-die games, we truly never give up.) – Rappler.com