Can’t fault Rain or Shine to look far ahead now.

Having gained much headway over the entire field with their swashbuckling ride, the Elasto Painters now have their sights set on the finals.

The Elasto Painters are determined to get going, hoping to further jack up their stock as they tangle with the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the closing match of the PBA Governors Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

They play at 6:30 p.m.

“This is an opportune time to prove that Rain or Shine is for real. To win will solidify our hold on first place and gets us closer to a first finals appearance for the franchise,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“We are ready to take on this challenge and we will offer no excuses,” Guiao added.

Rain or Shine has already achieved a franchise feat with a guaranteed first-place finish in the Governors Cup preliminaries.

The Elasto Painters have never done that ever since taking over the Shell franchise in 2006.

Guiao and his troops are highly motivated with their front-running 7-1 win-loss slate that they carry over into the next round.

Talk n Text is two full games behind at second place at 5-3. But the Texters themselves are already out to push their drive for the finals.

Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes said they face an acid test, acknowledging Rain or Shine plays the best at the moment.

“They’re the best team with the best import coming off a long rest. We need to figure how to stop them. They’re a very confident team right now and with good reason,” said Reyes.

But it’s tipped to be a battle.

Both are on a roll, and both are aching to get going to improve the cards they’re bringing over into the next round.

The semis is a short one-round-robin affair among six teams.

The Elasto Painters have been very dominant, suffering their lone defeat at the hands of the Powerade Tigers, 98-104, last June 8.

Jamelle Cornley and his teammates were so impressive in their last outing, clobbering defending champion Petron Blaze, 103-82, even in the absence of their prolific rookie Paul Lee.

The Texters, meanwhile, have got into the groove only after their return from a two-week respite.

They set out for the game versus the Elasto Painters riding the momentum of a four-game romp. (SB)

Source: PBA.ph