Rain or Shine ElastoPainters head coach Yeng Guiao in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The Rain or Shine ElastoPainters ousted the Converge FiberXers to advance to the semifinals of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.

Led by Deon Thompson and Adrian Nocum, the E-Painters successfully avoided elimination despite faltering in Game 1 as they took care of business against Converge in Game 3 via a 112-103 win on Sunday.

READ: Nocum powers Rain or Shine over Converge to punch semifinals ticket

“For an independent team to do that, it indicates that we have consistency. And ang [take] ko dito, you hang around long enough? Maybe, you’ll make the Finals,” said RoS head coach Yeng Guiao after the game.

“We just need to hang around and be in the thick of the fight, so we just need to be there. We should just show up, and then maybe we can make the Finals,” he added of his team which is now on its third straight semis stint dating back from the PBA Season 48-ending Philippine Cup.

However, the multi-titled mentor shared what would have happened if the Dennis Pineda-manned franchise was able to outwork them for Converge’s breakthrough semis appearance.

“‘Di niya natiis, baka masakit talaga sa loob manalo,” said Guiao on sharing a moment with his fellow Kapampangan. “Pero nagtatawagan naman kami, baka bukas lang tatawag na yun. Magkakaibigan kami, isang grupo lang kami sa Pampanga.”

“Ako, kung natalo kami, okay lang na sila ang pumasok kasi they represent the independent teams. Nag-usap nga kami na sana sa Finals kami nag kita, or semifinals man lang.”

“But we will cheer for each other, kung sila pumasok? We will cheer for them in the semifinals or the finals. I think it’s the same thing. Pumasok kami sa semis, so they’ll be rooting for us, also, kasi yun din ang gagawin namin kung sila ang pumasok,” furthered Coach Yeng.

RoS will be benefiting from all the support that they can get as they are set to engage in a Best-of-7 affair against the second-seeded TNT Tropang GIGA, a squad that previously eliminated them in the semis during the Season 49 Governors’ Cup, 4-1.

“We can enjoy this for a few days, then we’ll get back to work again,” he said.

“Suki kami ng TNT, pero sabi ko nga, lumaban ka lang. Basta andyan ka lang, baka swertehin ka. Baka makalusot eh, so ang importante, andoon ka. Bigyan mo lang sarili mo ng chance makapaglaro, and testingin mo lang sarili mo sa pagsubok,” added Guiao.