Painters face acid test vs Bolts

RAIN or Shine (ROS) faces an acid test against defending PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup champion Meralco on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Elasto Painters and the Bolts face off at 5 p.m. in a key matchup early in the conference.

Grand slam-seeking TNT tries to bounce back from a lackluster conference debut when it tangles with dangerous Converge at 7:30 p.m.

ROS coach Yeng Guiao admitted nothing won't come easy against the Bolts, who are eager to bounce back from back-to-back defeats.

"You're hoping your luck would hold out, but we're facing Meralco, so it's a tough challenge," said Guiao, whose team claimed a 113-96 rout of NorthPort before the Holy Week for its first win in the conference.

The Bolts enter the game carrying a 2-2 record.

Adding further woes to ROS is the possible-extended absence of big men Beau Belga (vertigo) and Keith Datu (calf injury).

Certainly, Meralco will try to take advantage of that since the team is also coming off a 109-97 loss to Phoenix Super LPG recently.

As for TNT, the team intends to recover quickly from a 91-74 shellacking it suffered at the hands of NLEX last Wednesday.

This time, the Tropang 5G will be taking on a FiberXers side that intends to use its size, youth and quickness.

Undoubtedly, Converge is loaded in almost all positions, with young big boys Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar capable of handling TNT's pair of veteran slotmen Poy Erram and Kelly Williams.

Even young Converge playmaker Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston are capable of challenging TNT's veteran snipers like Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac.

Converge enters the match with an even 2-2 record, having won against Phoenix (92-83) and Blackwater (111-80).