150 reasons to smile: Guiao wowed by Elasto Painters’ offensive brilliance

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao couldn’t remember a team he’s handled that breached 150 points.

Looking up to the scoreboard to see the Elasto Painters up by almost 60 and reaching 151 points was something unusual, even for a champion mentor with 36 years of coaching experience in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

“I don’t remember,” said Guiao when asked if he’s been in a high-scoring game such as what Rain or Shine did in a merciless humiliation of Blackwater, 151-95, on Tuesday in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“I looked at the score earlier, and it looked like an All-Star game,” the seven-time champion tactician added.

Statistics, actually, backed Guiao’s claim as the output of the Elasto Painters eclipsed the previous franchise record by 12 points.

Guiao, in his first year at the reins, recorded a 139-95 win over Meralco in the Philippine Cup eliminations in October of 2011.

But more than the club’s milestone, Rain or Shine’s scoring rampage and eventual 56-point massacre of the Bossing for its fourth straight win in as many outings set a new standard in the league’s list of lopsided victories.

It is now the largest winning margin in league history, surpassing the 55-point margin of 154-99 by Utex over Great Taste in the Open Conference semifinals on 12 July 1980, as per the record provided by PBA chief statistician and DAILY TRIBUNE columnist Fidel Mangonon III.

Import Jaylen Johnson, back after serving a one-game ban for his involvement in a fistfight with TNT’s Glenn Khobuntin two weeks ago, cherished the opportunity of being part of PBA history.

“It’s amazing. I’m glad to be a part of history a little bit, you know. I’m glad, I’m happy to be with these guys,” said Johnson, who had 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The Elasto Painters were in control of the match from the opening tip, cruising the rest of the way, where Guiao had the chance to empty his bench and see 14 of the 16 players he fielded chipping in points.

Rain or Shine put up some staggering numbers on the board.

Guiao’s bench mob scored 82 points, converted Blackwater’s 19 errors to 25 turnover points, outran the Bossing with a 38-9 advantage in fastbreak points and rained down 18 three-pointers.

Eight Elasto Painters finished in double figures and the players played unselfish basketball with 39 assists.

“There will come nights like this,” Guiao said.

“Coach Jeff (Cariaso) had a bad night with his team but that’s not the real game. They beat Magnolia in the last game. We approached this game very cautiously. I told the team in the dugout that if by the fourth quarter, Blackwater is close to us in the scores, we will have a problem. We will have to grind this game out. It’s a good thing we were away early.”

Rain or Shine will aim to sustain the momentum when it returns to action on 8 April against San Miguel Beer at the same Manila venue.