Unbeaten ROS and Meralco collide
Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Mahindra 7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Meralco
Defending champion Rain or Shine and Meralco, unbeaten with three victories apiece, dispute the solo lead in their first acid test in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The winning team in the 7 p.m. duel will not only put either the Elasto Painters atop the standings, but also give them the confidence needed to compete for the championship in the midseason conference.
So far, both squads have been on a roll, with Rain or Shine beating NLEX, Mahindra and Blackwater, in succession, while Meralco downed Mahindra, NLEX and TNT KaTropa.
Bolts coach Norman Black is expecting a tight battle pitting two teams with almost similar styles.
“That’s gonna be tough,” said Black. “I mean, it’s almost similar to the sense that (Rain or Shine) really likes to run, take quick shots. We have to get back defensively and defend the perimeter.
“It’s gonna be another high-scoring team that we will be up against so we have to focus on their plays,” added Black.
Their impressive starts are largely credited to the performances of their imports – Shawn Taggart for Rain or Shine and Alex Stepheson for Meralco.
Taggart averaged 26.0 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Elasto Painters while Stepheson is leading the Bolts with 16.3 points, 24.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
More than their stellar plays, it’s been the locals who have been solid.
James Yap is leading Rain or Shine in scoring at 16.3 points, while Jay Washington came away with the clutch baskets in Sunday’s 95-88 victory over Blackwater at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“I feel like we’re getting better and better,” said Taggart. “All our shooters were off right now but we play great defense and we play good team basketball.”
Meralco, on the other hand, is getting big lifts from Baser Amer, Jared Dillinger and Chris Newsome, their contributions sometimes overshadowed by Stepheson’s presence.
Amer is on pace for his best conference of his two-year pro career with 16.0 points, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals, Dillinger, with his 15.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists, is showing signs of improvement after missing most of the Philippine Cup with an injury while Newsome has 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Meanwhile, unbeaten Alaska eyes its third straight victory against Mahindra in the 4:15 p.m. curtain raiser.
The Aces are on a roll after two games, thanks in large part to the play of import Cory Jefferson.