Down 3-1 again to Rain or Shine, Tim Cone sees harder climb for San Mig Coffee

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Thursday, December 27, 2012 · 9:58 pm

AKTV file/Paolo Papa

Last season, Tim Cone and his squad were trailing 3-1 to Rain or Shine in a best-of-seven series. The team then known as the B-MEG Llamados came back to force a seventh game, where they yielded the Governors’ Cup to the Elasto Painters.
One conference later, Cone and the San Mig Coffee Mixers are in a similar hole against the same team, this time in the Philippine Cup semifinals.
“It will be harder this time,” said Cone, who seemed in no mood to speak discuss in detail his team’s 83-74 loss Thursday.
Rain or Shine dominated San Mig Coffee for the second straight game, leading by 18 points in the third quarter before a late charge by the Mixers cut the lead down.
But the Elasto Painters preserved the victory using hustle and hard work, personified by the game’s best player Ronnie Matias. The 6-foot-3 forward scored just eight points, but six of those came in the fourth quarter when the Mixers were making their rally.
He also had five rebounds, all on the offensive end, usually keeping the ball alive for Rain or Shine to take the air out of San Mig Coffee’s comeback attempt.
Before the series, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao was concerned about the rebounding battle against the Mixers. In Game Four, the Elasto Painters won the boards, 49-44. They also had 14 steals to San Mig Coffee’s seven.