BY NOLI CORTEZ

WHETHER it was by design or sheer luck, Rain or Shine made its first-ever semifinals stint very special.

It’s now a matter of the Elasto Painters seeing how far their joy ride will continue to pan out in Game 2 of their Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference semifinals duel with Ginebra today at the Astrodome.

Rain or Shine, the league’s youngest member, and title-favorite San Miguel Beer won the opening run pairings, the latter against Burger King, last Wednesday and will try to take 2-0 leads in the best-of-seven duels.

The Painters pulled off a 101-95 shocker over the more experienced defending champion Kings in Game 1 last Wednesday, raising hopes the team could go all the way.

Coach Caloy Garcia is among those aching to know if they could sustain their surprising drive since they are up against the overwhelming favorites.

"I just told the players, even myself, not to be pressured because nobody’s expecting us to be here," said Garcia, whose charges are still on a high after surviving a second straight quarterfinals stint.

"We came this far because of hard work and helping out each other. So basically we’re the underdogs and when you’re the underdogs usually halos lahat ng tao have given up on you. Pero we just kept our heads high," he added.
And their feet on the ground.

"Blessing lang na we won this game, but it’s a long series and I hope we can get another three wins," he stressed. "We’re playing Ginebra and you don’t win a series in the first game. But all we rely on is hard work and helping each other."

Rain or Shine held Ginebra without a field goal in the last five minutes. The Elasto Painters actually trailed by as much as 45-59 early in the third period, but banked on the alternating endgame heroics of Rob Wainwright, Jai Lewis, Gabe Norwood, Don Dulay and Jireh Ibanes to open up their first-ever semis stint on a bright note.

"Defense won the game, especially in the second half," said Garcia, whose team trailed by 41-49 at the half. "In the first half medyo pangit ang rotation namin. We were playing bad, we were down by eight, but they were just leading us by free throws.