Teams rarely support their rivals, but Yeng Guiao, the coach of Rain or Shine, has once again demonstrated his uniqueness. If Phoenix Super LPG makes it to the finals, he hopes they will challenge the team and advance far in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Guiao noted that clubs like Phoenix and Rain or Shine don’t often have a chance to go to the semifinals. However, given Phoenix’s performance in the elimination round, which gave them a two-game edge in the postseason, Guiao is intrigued by the idea that their team, a small-budget squad, would be able to surprise the favorites.

Guiao wants both his team and Phoenix to succeed, but that might need them to play each other early in the playoffs in order to eliminate one another and keep one of them from moving forward.

If the Fuel Masters had defeated TNT going into Sunday’s games, Phoenix would have faced Rain or Shine in the Final Eight. However, when the Fuel Masters were defeated, 116-96, the Elasto Painters will now play formidable San Miguel in the quarterfinals.

Rain or Shine would only play Phoenix in the postseason finals, where they would be drawn from different brackets.

Johnathan Williams, an import, and the youthful core selected in the draft helped Phoenix finish the elimination round with an 8-3 record, good for fourth place and a quarterfinal matchup against the formidable Meralco.

With Andrei Caracut leading the young team and import Tree Treadwell playing at a high level, Rain or Shine ended the elimination round with a 6-5 record and a six-game winning streak. However, in the quarterfinals, it will face San Miguel, a team that is doing well, with their conference on the line. San Miguel has won five straight games to take a twice-to-beat advantage.

But, what about Northport?

Strangely, throughout the entire conversation, Guiao made no mention of NorthPort, the only other independent club to advance past Rain or Shine and Phoenix to the quarterfinals.