Our RoS story and what's next

Photo credit: Sports5.ph

Unless it has not been made any more obvious, we are Rain or Shine Elastopainters fans. Since Yeng Guiao took over the reins and imprinted his basketball philosophies on an otherwise fresh yet bland product. Our loyalty to RoS was further cemented of course, when they drafted Paul Lee in 2011.

The first title, in 2012, came at the expense of then San Mig Coffee Mixers (now STAR Hotshots) which was still trying to build chemistry with 1st year head coach Tim Cone. We can still remember pieces of that championship run, and though RoS has always played with grit and intensity, the championship was gift-wrapped for them by super import Jamelle Cornley who would also later on win the Best Import award.

How good was Cornley?


All the other imports were over-matched, as the 6"5 Ohio native was built like a PBA power forward/ center but with the ball-handling skills of a crafy, veteran point guard. Simply put, he was pretty much how Paul Lee is a walking mismatch for most at PG-- not the fastest, but definitely one of the most efficient and strongest.

Speaking of Lee, he was injured in Game 1 and had to watch the rest of the festivities from the bench. He would've been a big help for sure, but there was no denying how it was Cornley's overall impact on the floor and the fact that no one could guard him that secured RoS its first title.

Moving on.

Heartbreak, after heartbreak, after heartbreak.

But with each heartbreak, came a Gilas call-up. Jeffrei Chan. Gabe Norwood. Beau Belga. Paul Lee.

The Gilas-to Painters as we fondly call them, all matured. All got better. Norwood seems to transform into the player we've always wanted him to be when he dons a Pilipinas jersey. Chan picked up a couple of more high IQ plays while Belga learned self-control.

Lee? He learned how basketball, on the PBA level, would be easier for him if he switched to SG from time to time.

But he kept getting hurt during the process. RoS kept falling short whenever they would make a run into the Finals.

Until this last conference.

Versus a depleted Alaska Aces side, we pencilled the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup title as RoS' to lose. There was just no way, with every one healthy, despite the presence of a low-usage, low-scoring import in Pierre Henderson Niles, that RoS would lose to the Aces who were without starters JVee Casio and Vic Manuel.

In Games 1 to 3, it was how RoS' initial high ball screen anchored on aces Lee, young Jericho Cruz and Maverick Ahanmisi kept dismantling the Aces' reputed tough defense. They just didn't have the right tools. And as hard as their first unit tried, they would be exhausted while RoS would simply bring in a fresh batch of players with either Lee or Cruz in the lead.

Games 4 and 5, the Aces' fought back. They showed pride. The pride of a team whose Finals losing record belies its great ability to bounce back conference after conference when others would choose to sulk or rebuild.

RoS' high ball screen was snuffed out, even in Game 3. The Aces kept trapping the ball handler early, with the help being a lengthy defender at all times. Damn the kickout pass, the Aces' gambled everything on this one play over and over and it paid off. Lee and Cruz couldn't see anyone to kick the ball out to, and the RoS offense fell apart.

As a fan, this was the next step for RoS. The high ball screen is and was too predictable. The Aces, arguably the best defensive team in the PBA, have seen it more than enough to prepare for it. To win, RoS needed to show us something else.

And in Game 6, they did.

They ran horns-- a double high screen that could go either side of the half court set. They played some 4-1 with their shooters spread out all over, specially in the corners. They ran some isolation, not for Lee or Cruz, but for JayR Quinahan. Jeff Chan wanted it.

Paul Lee wanted it.

Lee checked into a close game and basically closed the freaking game. He played how many minutes? And scored how many points? He went 4/4 from deep. He had that PWET AND1 on Chris Banchero. This was Lee at his best, this was RoS at its best.

So what's next?

Well, this is Lee's last contract year. Will he extend? Or has he lived up to his "end of the bargain" when he renewed just a season ago? Some say that this was the deal between Yeng Guiao and Lee. Championship. Then let's see where it goes. We, as fans, do not want to consider it. But if that talk indeed went down, the way some conspiracy theorists claim, then this would be a fitting end to Lee's RoS run.

Championship, hand-delivered, and a Finals MVP.

Wala ka ng mahihiling pa.

Of course, we'd like for Lee to stay with RoS. Now that Guiao's not going anywhere thanks or no thanks to his recent loss in the national elections.

The team has a good core. A solid, young core. The most senior member is Captain Jireh Ibanes who was born in 1982. He is also little-used. Next is Jeffrei Chan, 1983, but as most shooters, they only get better with time and also enjoy longer basketball careers. Everyone else is good for another title run, and owing to Coach Guiao's loyalty/ chemistry approach, it's doubtful that they'll be going anywhere.

Another question that we were asked is, if this team could possibly beat a full strength San Miguel Beermen with 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo in tow.

To that, we say yes.

Remember that last conference, RoS actually pushed SMB 4-2. They weren't getting man-handled, despite Fajardo constantly putting up insane, superhuman numbers. Also, Lee was given the keys to the team when it was Cruz and Chan who carried them into the Playoffs.

Same banana this conference. Just replace Fajardo's numbers with Tyler Wilkerson. RoS managed. Single coverage. They'll do the same with Fajardo. Trouble is, from Fajardo to his backups, there is always a big drop (depends on which side of the bed Yancy de Ocampo wakes up in, and Gabby Espinas' mental stability) while with RoS you get the same thing out of Belga, Quinahan, Jewel Ponferada and Raymond Almazan.

Also, as deep as SMB is, they seem to be more comfortable just going with their starters. Bench? Only in spurts, but nothing concrete. They don't really run plays for the bench guys. They just fill in roles-- not that there's anything wrong with it.

But should SMB's starters falter, they don't really have anything going for them from the bench while we have seen RoS' bench being responsible for game-changing/ winning runs.

Hopefully, Josan Nimes blossoms into a solid rotation player-- he has all the tools but we see some flashes of "larong pogi" in him. We've seen some promise from Don Trollano-- a fearless scorer. Jeric Teng is a solid guard once he figures out that he shouldn't be trying too hard to play PG and just pick his spots on when and where to shoot ala teammate Chris Tiu.

Speaking of which, will Tiu retire at season's end? If he will, what a fitting way to go. RoS will need to find a PG, maybe by PBA Draft time. Who knows?

Should RoS add another big man? Well, if there's anyone coming out of the amateurs who can play the post and is big enough, why not? But other than Arnold Van Opstal, there's really no one out there at the moment. Everyone else is busy playing hybrid 4 which RoS basically has a lot of.

It's a good time to be an RoS fan.