MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine forward Leonard Santillan knows the coming PBA Season 50 brings so much hope for a team that has reached the semifinals in the last four conferences.
While reaching the Final Four each conference is an accomplishment in itself, considering each team had to pass through heavyweight squads like San Miguel Beer, TNT, Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia, ROS has made it a goal this coming season to make it all the way to the Finals.
The 29-year-old Santillan said the offseason is a perfect time for the players to fine-tune their individual skills, as well as re-learn the system under coach Yeng Guiao, and unlearn old habits.
“What coach just wants to see is consistency, especially since we’ve reached the semis several times, but now, we have a goal to make it to the Finals,” Santillan told the Manila Times in Filipino.
And reaching the Finals entails more than just talent. Instead, it would require the full complement of the team’s roster, knowing that the Beermen, the Gin Kings, the Tropang 5G, among others enjoy a power-packed roster each season.
The good news is, Rain or Shine has welcomed the return of veteran big man Beau Belga, and incoming third year big man Luis Villegas, who has fully recovered from a knee injury that has kept him out of commission for his first two seasons as a pro.
Santillan said Belga’s veteran presence will be huge for ROS, while the 6-foot-8 Villegas adds size.
“We all know the leadership kuya Beau brings to the team, and of course, it will be huge for him to contribute also on offense and defense,” the former La Salle standout said on Belga.
“As for Luis, he’s already strengthening himself so he can get more accustomed to the system since he’s been out for many months and he’s trying to catchup.” The 38-year-old Belga missed a big chunk of last season due to vertigo, but has since been medically cleared to enter his 17th season in the PBA.
Boosting the team further and bringing in solid leadership is Filipino-American Stanley Pringle, whom ROS acquired this offseason.
A four-time PBA champion, Pringle can bring instant offense and add stability for the team, especially during crunch time.
“Coach said, what we really need is learn to play in the endgame and Stanley will be a big help on that because he knows what to do in those situations,” shared Santillan, the fifth overall pick of Rain or Shine in the 2020 PBA Rookie Draft. Rain or Shine hopes to end its nine-year title drought, since it last tasted a PBA championship during the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
