Rain or Shine is focused on its upcoming game against San Miguel on Thursday, which head coach Yeng Guiao views as a playoff showdown, after successfully securing a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Elasto Painters defeated NLEX 123-114 in overtime on Tuesday, their sixth victory in eight games, to accomplish their first objective of making it to the quarterfinals.

Guiao stated that they are now aiming for more victories in the hopes of securing the top spot in Group B, as they have already achieved the short-term objective.

“We will see if we can still play for the number one spot in our group,” said Guiao. “I think we have a chance at that. We will keep trying.”

“But to us, the most important thing tonight is ang gusto lang natin maka-six wins tayo kasi pasok tayo sa quarterfinals kapag naka-six wins tonight. The most important thing for us is just win the game, overtime man ‘yan, one-point man ‘yan, 20 points man ‘yan, ang importante, manalo tayo para maka-look forward tayo sa playoffs,” said Guiao.

On September 5, Rain or Shine almost put San Miguel to sleep in their first-round matchup as the Elasto Painters fell 113–112 thanks to a buzzer-beater by June Mar Fajardo.

But according to Guiao, the dynamic of their rematch at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday would be different because San Miguel is coming off a 131-82 victory over Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.

Meanwhile, Rey Nambatac became a member of TNT’s list of walking wounded during the PBA Governors’ Cup.

The seasoned guard missed Tuesday’s Tropang Giga game against the Magnolia Hotshots at Ninoy Aquino Stadium due to a recurrence of his right shoulder injury.

There is no set schedule for his return, he continued.

Together with big giants Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Henry Galinato, the guard from Letran is the most recent Tropang Giga to be injured during this conference.

The team just activated Kelly Williams and Roger Pogoy off the injured list.

Before facing Magnolia, Nambatac started six of TNT’s previous seven games as a starter, averaging 11.5 points to rank third on the team with 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

The Tropang Giga have already qualified for the playoffs after acquiring Nambatac in the offseason in exchange for Kib Montalbo and Jewel Ponferada.