Ronald Tubid is enjoying the peace of a Thursday. No game. No pain. Well, at least not as much pain as Tubid normally endures on a normal PBA night. He slides into a plastic chair and complains about sore arms and legs from Ginebra's morning practice. With a smile. He's about to do "astig" poses for a new basketball magazine, swagger on his face but Rain or Shine on his mind.

"Ang mahirap sa Rain or Shine, hindi mo alam kung sino gagawa," Tubid, Ginebra's defensive stopper admits. "Pwedeng si Buenafe, si Arana, si Norwood, halos lahat sila kailangan paghandaan."

But Tubid's primary assignment in the quarterfinals: to stop Rain or Shine's burly import Hassan Adams. It's both a compliment for Tubid's harassing instincts and a curse to his lithe 6-foot-1 frame. Adams is bigger than Tubid. All imports are. Tubid, however, has two advantages. His defensive mind...and...diabolical mouth.

"Sabi nga nila ako talaga taga-asar sa Ginebra," Ginebra's titan of trash-talking confesses. "Katawan sa katawan lang ang depensa. Pero 'pag kinakailangan, ganoon lang talaga basketball, kailangan asarin lang talaga."

Some players are gladiators on and off the court. Some have dual personalities. Tubid is part of the latter group. Away from the game, in the privacy of his house, he doesn't tinker with motor-bikes, doesn't even play shoot-them-up-blood-and-gore video games. Instead, Mister Fearless watches over fish. He doesn't have a motor garage. He has a pond. Yes, the combustible defender, a man willing to spit in your face and step on your guts on the hardcourt, is, of all things, an arowana man.

Tubid gamely poses in front of the digital camera. The photographer asks him to pocket his grin. He politely obliges. He is agreeable today. An easy magazine subject. Taming him 24 hours later is another story.

"Kahit mas malaki sila, kailangan lang makuha 'yung timing," Tubid explains. "Kung kailan siya papasok, papano mo babanggain na hindi ka dehado, kung papano mo kokontrahin. Yan ang mga pinaghahandaan ko."

Tubid seems ready for Adams. Ready for Jeff Chan. Ready for Josh Vanlangdingham. He seems ready even for Big Bad Beau Belga. But is he ready for Rain or Shine's Cyclone Guiao?

"Halos lahat ng players sa PBA, nakatikim na ng mga puna galing kay Coach Yeng. Nakaka-challenge nga eh," Tubid quips. "Kasi parang china-challenge ka ni Coach Yeng 'pag gjnagawa niya yun."

Tubid flexes his muscles for the camera. It's all play-acting for the moment. One day later, he'll do it for real. It'll be as real as a violent PBA play-off collision. As real as taunts from Rain or Shine's tempestuous coach.

"Hinamon na ako ni Coach Yeng dati ng suntukan," Tubid vividly recalls. "Siguro masyado lang ako matapang sa court kaya sabi niya sa akin 'Gusto mo suntukan na lang tayo!' Sabi ko kay Coach Yeng 'Lumapit lang kayo dito Coach!'"

Arowana Man, you see, is ready to swim with the sharks. - GMA News