(CNN Philippines) — Rain or Shine has been a fixture in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
And on Tuesday (April 7), the Elasto Painters booked their third trip to the last dance in five conferences after sweeping the Meralco Bolts in their best-of-five Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel.
It’s actually the team’s ultimate goal every conference, said star point guard Paul Lee.
“’Yun naman ang aim namin every conference (umabot sa finals). Hindi magbabago yun,” Lee said in the aftermath of their 107-98 Game 3 win at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“Lagi lang kami nire-remind na okay lang na hindi nagcha-champion basta at least umabot kami sa finals at ma-experience namin yun ng sama-sama.”
Related: Rain or Shine clinches first finals berth with sweep of Meralco
After falling short twice last season, Lee believes the Elasto Painters have a better chance of bagging the crown this time.
“Siguro this is the best chance na manalo kami ng championship,” Lee, a frontrunner in the Best Player of the Conference derby, said. “Healthy si Wayne (Chism) at halos healthy naman ang buong team. Kailangan i-grab na namin ‘tong pagkakataong ‘to.”
The Elasto Painters await the winner between the Purefoods Star Hotshots, who beat them in the Philippine Cup and Governors’ Cup finals last season, and the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters in the other semifinal pairing.
“Kahit sino paghahandaan namin,” he said, refusing to name which team he wants to play against in the finals.
“Sobrang tough ng games nila parehas. Nung Game 1 akala mo walk in the park na sa Purefoods pero nung second half nakita mo na going into Game 2 iba magiging sitwayson. Maganda series nila.”
