big boys return: Belga, Tiongson set to boost Rain or Shine frontline

Games today:

(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

5 p.m. — Blackwater vs Rain or Shine

7:30 p.m. — Barangay Ginebra vs NLEX

The cavalry finally arrives for Rain or Shine.

Big men Beau Belga and Caelan Tiongson are expected to suit up to reinforce the Elasto Painters who are seeking to rebound from a previous setback in a clash with Blackwater in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao is elated to have his regular frontline complete after his burly veteran bruiser Belga got the green light to play after missing games due to vertigo. The same goes for Tiongson, who was out for two outings because of back spasms.

“Having them back is a big morale-booster for us, it’s important to have them in the lineup since we’re going against Blackwater,” Guiao said of his squad all geared up for the 5 p.m. showdown.

The Elasto Painters were able to hold the fort for back-to-back games without a legitimate big man.

But Rain or Shine’s speed and quickness, including the return of injured big man Keith Datu, could only do so much as it stumbled against towering Converge in its last outing to slide down to a 2-2 win-loss record.

“It’s difficult for us if we don’t have our regular bigs,” Guiao said of the Elasto Painters’ 97-107 loss last week, where FiberXers twin towers Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar bullied them down low.

Sizing up the Bossing, Guiao would like to believe they have a good chance of turning things around with Belga and Tiongson back in the fold.

“Blackwater, although they have size, I still feel that they can neutralize the size as long as we can get some good minutes from Beau and Caelan,” he said.

“They’re not as problematic in their size as against Converge, so that lessens some of our concerns.”

Rain or Shine could also exploit a possible handicap by Blackwater as its leading scorer Sedrick Barefield and Christian David remain doubtful, nursing injuries.

Barefield has already missed a couple of games due to a hamstring issue while David sprained his ankle just four minutes in in the Bossing’s 72-80 loss to NLEX last Friday.

Blackwater carries a 1-3 mark tied with NorthPort and grand slam-seeking TNT at ninth to 11th place.

Meanwhile, streaking NLEX faces an acid test against Barangay Ginebra in the main game at 7:30 p.m.

The Road Warriors are on a three-game roll to move up to solo second place behind unbeaten Magnolia, sporting a 3-1 card.

However, the Gin Kings are breathing down NLEX’s neck at third place with a 2-1 slate.

Ginebra bounced back from its lone loss by venting its ire on NorthPort with a 131-106 masterclass last week.