Keith Datu steps up in Game 3 of PBA semifinals, credits Rain or Shine coaches for continued support

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters kept their hopes of reaching the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup finals alive by defeating the TNT Tropang Giga, 107–86, in Game 3 of the semifinals on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

This was a crucial win for Rain or Shine, which had lost the first two games of the best-of-seven semifinal series. The victory also saw rookie Keith Datu bounce back from disappointing performances in Games 1 and 2 to finish with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and one block—easily his best showing of the Philippine Cup semifinals so far.

Datu struggled in the first two games, averaging just 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds. The 21-year-old expressed his gratitude to the Rain or Shine coaching staff for continuing to believe in him despite his rough start.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao commended sophomore big man Keith Datu for finally making his presence felt in their dominant 107-86 victory over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

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“They expect a lot out of me, and honestly, they should. I’m up for the challenge, and I know what I can bring to the table. They wouldn’t come talk to me if they didn’t think I was capable of making an impact. I want to show them that I am going to make an impact,” Datu told the media after Game 3.

Standing 6-foot-8, the rookie is the tallest player on the team, giving Rain or Shine a presence on both offense and defense. Datu is eager to build on his performance heading into Game 4—a pivotal contest as Rain or Shine looks to even the series.

“Definitely a better showing for us—individually and as a team—in Game 3. We went out there knowing our backs were against the wall. We were down 0–2, so we gave it our best shot. Every small detail, every possession matters at this point, so we just have to go out there and do our best.

Game 4 is going to be huge. We need to win that game to really turn the series around, and this win in Game 3 shows that we can. We’ve got to win, but I believe in this team and what we’re capable of—both individually and collectively. I trust our coaches and the system we’re running to accomplish our goal,” Datu concluded.

There’s growing confidence within the Rain or Shine camp that their Game 3 win could serve as the turning point in the series. The all-important Game 4 between Rain or Shine and TNT takes place on Wednesday, July 2, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

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