The lone out-of-town between the Kings and the Elasto Painters presented by Phoenix Fuel is set at 6 p.m.

After a franchise-best start of 3-0, Rain or Shine has dropped its next three games, losing to Philippine Cup champion Talk ’N Text, 99-78, the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas, 99-94, and last March 20 to Air21, 94-92.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao blamed the team’s defeat to several basic mistakes like erratic free throw shooting and not moving the ball well that saw a sudden drop in their assist average from at least 30 to 25.

“The mistakes we’re making were just basic mistakes. So if we correct these mistakes, we have a better chance of winning,” Guiao said. “We have to arrest the losing skid because we’re in danger of being eliminated.”

Unlike Rain or Shine, Ginebra is on a roll, having won their last three games – a 106-94 win over San Miguel, 99-86 decision over Air21 and a 107-92 drubbing of Powerade.

Despite Rain or Shine’s slump, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico won’t take the Painters lightly, especially their import Hassan Adams.

Uichico said they have to limit the production of Adams at all cost.

Guiao knows too that Adams, a former New Jersey Net, will be a key factor if they want to return to their winning ways and improve their chances of moving to the playoff round this conference where only six teams will advance to the next phase.

“He has to assert more effort. He needs to play better defense, while on offense, it’s not necessary for him to score more but he needs to take quality shots. We talked to him, told him what he needs to do,” Guiao said.

Guiao added that they are looking for a replacement, but it would all depend on the performance of Adams, who averaged more than 30 points in the first three games but whose offensive production suddenly dropped.

“Besides, it might be a bigger risk (if we change import at this time). Of course, in terms of acclimatizing a new import and giving him time to adjust, medyo risky. You have to really think two or three times before making a decision,” he said.

SMB out, Petron in

Meanwhile, San Miguel Corporation announced that its team will now be known as the Petron Blaze 100 in the next Philippine Basketball Association conference to replace San Miguel Beer.

Petron, the country’s largest oil refiner supplying an estimated 40% of the nation’s fuel requirements, is a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, the Philippines’ rapidly diversifying food-to-power conglomerate and parent company of San Miguel Brewery, Inc.

Through the Petron Blaze team, the firm hopes to entice more businessmen and small to medium entrepreneurs to invest in Petron service stations, particularly the Petron Bulilit stations.

“The Petron Blaze team will help us encourage more of our countrymen to partner with Petron via several dealership options. Part of Petron’s CSR effort is to create livelihood opportunities for Filipinos of different income levels.” said San Miguel Corporation president and Petron chairman Ramon S. Ang.

The team will also be ambassadors of the Petron Foundation's CSR projects ranging from entrepreneurship to environmental protection.