Nothing but praises for Norwood, Mercado
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/14/2008 11:49 AM
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It's Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Sta. Lucia Realtors this Friday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo as the expansion club's top rookies strut their wares against the defending champs.
For coach Caloy Garcia, it's the fact that top rookie picks Gabe Norwood, the Painters' No.1 pick, and No.3 pick Sol Mercado, tapped from Alaska for Joe Devance, are in Rain or Shine's fold.
"I hope I could continue to excite the fans," said Norwood in a report on the Philippine Basketball Association Website.
The Elasto Painters are in solo second place behind co-leaders Alaska and San Miguel (7-2). Rain or Shine has a 5-4 slate as the double round of eliminations entered its first half. Analysts consider the record as a sort of milestone for the team that failed to make the playoffs during its first two seasons in the PBA.
"I just hope we could continue playing the way we are playing now," said Garcia before their game against defending champion Sta. Lucia.
Friday's game will be an attempt for Rain or Shine to climb up following a 103-106 beating by Air21 Express over the weekend.
But despite the tandem of Norwood and Mercado, Garcia said it might not be easy riding for the Painters.
"We have to come out with a lot of energy because Sta. Lucia is a very experienced team. We have to play our game for 48 minutes," he said.
The momentum is on Sta. Lucia's side after snapping a three-game skid against Red Bull on Sunday. The Realtors are 4-4.
Realtors coach Boyet Fernandez, meanwhile, said he expects the game to be exciting. However, he said that he would want his boys to be more on the defensive side.
"Rain or Shine is playing well. If we want to win against them we have to play tough defense," Fernandez said.
The Painters and the Realtors clash at 7:30 p.m. following the battle between Purefoods (4-5) and Red Bull (3-5). This is first meeting for the Painters and the Realtors for the current 2008-2009 KFC PBA Philippine Cup.
