Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao is not buying into the struggles of Magnolia, reminding his wards that the team remains dangerous heading into their clash in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The Elasto Painters are looking to stretch their win streak to three after catching big fishes in Eastern and San Miguel in their last two games.

On the other hand, the Hotshots, currently on a three-game slide, are determined to break out of their slump in the 5 p.m. showdown that will come before the clash of Barangay Ginebra and Terrafirma at 7 p.m.

According to the veteran mentor, ROS needs not to look back far in the past to remember how good Magnolia is.

The Elasto Painters defeated the Hotshots in five-grueling games with their losses all being blowouts and their victories coming in during the nip-and-tuck affairs.

“May rivalry na rin kami may history kami, nakalaban namin sila sa quarterfinals. Hirap na hirap kami. Kung talunin kami ng Magnolia tambakan eh pero kung manalo kami sa kanila kaunti lang,” Guiao pointed out

“Parang kabisado rin nila yung laro namin. Kaya rin nila na maglaro ng mabilis, meron silang beterano na dependable so mabigat parin yung Magnolia,” he added.

Guiao is also not the one to be complacent against a Magnolia team that has returning import Ricardo Ratliffe. The veteran big man may have been playing below expectations for Magnolia but Guiao believes he only needs a breakout game to get into the groove of things.

“‘Yung import nila slow starter lang iyon si Ratcliffe. Hindi siya heavy scorer pero maaasahan mo na malaking impact niya sa laro kahit di sya masyadong umiiskor,” Guiao said of the Magnolia import who may need to do a lot of heavy lifting with Paul Lee and Zav Lucero questionable in the contest.

Guiao, however, believes he has a good matchup for Ratliffe with import Deon Thompson pretty much familiar with the Magnolia reinforcement,

“Ang maganda naman kabisado rin siya ni Deon dahil magkakampi yan sa Korea, nagchampion yan sila sa Korea sila magkakampi,” he added.