Make it Rain (or Shine)

He's got the whole world, in his hands
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

While other teams thrive on running complicated sets, system and Xs and Os, it seems as though the Rain or Shine Elastopainters have found a winning formula that appears to be, on paper, simpler:

Familiarity.

You cannot argue with results, as the team is now on the verge of its 5th PBA Finals appearance since head coach Yeng Guiao took over in 2011. The core of the team remains the same: built through high draft picks with the longest tenured being Jireh Ibanes (drafted in 2006) followed by the 2008 pair of Gabe Norwood and TY Tang. After that, they kept building through picks and some under-the-radar trades (they were busiest during the early Guiao years) that has built what is now known as the RoS' brand of basketball.

Fun, fast and physical.

There are no bad shots in Coach Yeng's system. The only bad shots are the ones that you chose not to take when you're open. Other than that, guys are free to do as they please on offense as long as it's in the flow of the game and not forced. That sounds like it's not much, but you have to have a lot of trust in a team to allow end-of-the-bench guys to be taking near-game winners, regardless of the result.

Last night as they proceeded to sweep the hapless Meralco Bolts, RoS was in full throttle. Yes, they took their foot off the gas mid-game which allowed a Bolts' comeback, but when they finally remembered what was on stake, they basically kicked the Bolts out of the door. Together.

A fastbreak, outlet pass to Gabe Norwood who suddenly found himself trapped by the Bolts' quick-to-return defense which would usually result into a turnover-- but not for RoS. Because there was always a trailer-- this time it was Raymond Almazan, just doing what he does, camping in the paint, knowing and trusting in Norwood to make the correct play. Which Norwood did. Because he knew when to pass, where to pass, and that Almazan would finish. Instead of hero-balling like other stars would.

Trust.

Pass the ball to a role playing big man? Some "PBA superstars" would either jack up a forced shot or turn the ball over than see that happen.

But not RoS.

Watching the team, over the last few years, has been such a joy. Because they empower one another, there's trust, and goofing off. Purefoods is another team that looks the same way, but since there's still that divide among locals and Fil-foreigners, we just can't buy into their team as much. Same with TNT. With RoS? Norwood's basically homegrown by now (if he isn't, please ask Beau Belga to force feed him some balut).

Kulang na lang talaga e si Norwood magmumura ng Tagalog sa referee, that would be the day.

Honestly, looking at this team, they remind me of Ginebra Na 1996. Norwood is my token Vince Hizon. The rest are easy. Belga and Quinahan are Wilmer Ong, Noli Locsin and the stocky legs of Jayvee Gayoso and Dudut Jaworski, Jr. combined. Pili ka na lang kanina kina Chris Tiu, Jonathan Uyloan at TY Tang yung Bal David. Almazan is Aquino. Jeff Chan is a sexier Pido Jarencio. Paul Lee is a young Robert Jaworski, Sr. okay, we took him out of a different era but you get the idea.

Bolts' head coach Norman Black said that he likes how RoS was built: with young pieces that were allowed to develop and grow together.

Someday, this RoS team will reach its full potential and maybe become too big for the team individually. They could either choose to stay together, or go search for greener pastures (as we think some of their key players will, since this is still a business).

But until that day comes, we'll be very proud to say it:

We love watching RoS basketball. Win or lose, they do it as a family.

Pero sana sa Finals, ke kontra Purefoods (lagi kaming talo kahit minsan nakaka lamang) o Talk 'n' Text (na wala talaga kaming panalo), e maka isa kami. Madamot kami e.