Game Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. — Coca-Cola vs Rain or Shine

For the second time this season, Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola will dispute the last quarterfinal slot in the PBA Fiesta Cup wildcard phase this Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The lone KO game between the Elasto Painters and the Tigers is a rehash of the All-Filipino Conference when they also contested the last quarterfinal berth.

The Elasto Painters prevailed in that meeting which they also hope to accomplish when they clash at 7 p.m.

The wildcard survivor will advance to the best-of-five quarterfinal showdown opposite reigning Philippine Cup champion B-Meg Derby Ace, while Barangay Ginebra and Alaska will collide in the other pairing of the quarters.

Rain or Shine and Coke arranged the knockout match after eliminating their initial opponents in the wildcard with the Painters scoring a 92-89 win over the Air21 Express while the Tigers edging past the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 100-84.

However, Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia stressed that the team which plays a disciplined game will win the game

“Both teams will be bringing the momentum from their win last Sunday,” said Garcia, who hopes to keep his team’s unbeaten record against Coca-Cola this season. “But it all depends on who really wants it more.”

Actually, that’s what the Painters did when they clashed against the Tigers in the second knockout match of the all-Filipino wildcard to advance to the quarterfinals against eventual champion Purefoods (now B-Meg).

Rain or Shine, now on its fourth season since joining the PBA in 2006, has swept its classification meetings with Coke, including impressive wins this conference, a 91-80 victory in the first last April 16 and a 101-90 triumph in the second round last Jun 25.

In this initial face-off this conference, Rain or Shine got balanced scoring as import Jai Lewis finished with 19 points, while the troika of Sol Mercado, Gabe Norwood and Jay-R Reyes combined for 44 points. Coke got 34 points from James Penny.

The two teams changed imports, with the Painters taking former Ginebra reinforcement Rod Nealy while the Tigers tapped Rashad Bell, who was later replaced by John Williamson.

Nealy had 26 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists in the second round meeting of the two teams last June 25.

More than Nealy’s scoring prowess, Garcia said that they have to do it by playing team defense, saying: “We need to outhustle them and control the boards again.”