MANILA: Rain or Shine took the long route going to the Final Four of the PBA Philippine Cup, blowing a golden chance just last week to get there outright and have several days of spending the holidays with the family.

As it turned out, coach Yeng Guiao wouldn’t have liked that.

With seven players tossing in twin digits, the Elasto Painters on Monday night ran roughshod over Talk ‘N Text, showing their readiness for the semifinals after a 104-89 victory over the Tropang Texters at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Rain or Shine, because of a loss to an NLEX crew that had very little to gain last week, threw away the No. 1 ranking and the right for a long vacation.

The Elasto Painters were made to play an extra two games in the quarterfinals, first against Blackwater and this one against the Tropang Texters.

Guiao was thankful for the exposure.

“We were finally able to finish (and make the Final Four), unlike against NLEX. We had a chance for the short route and we blew it, probably because we weren’t prepared yet,” Guiao told reporters.

“You can’t get to the semis if you are not ready,” the multi-titled coach continued. “This is a blessing in disguise, this long route has made us ready. We’re better prepared now.

“Had we made it then (with a win over NLEX), we would have made the Final Four outright but we might not be as ready as we are ready now,” Guiao explained.

Raymond Almazan scattered 15 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Painters, who made it this far even with superstar point guard Paul Lee yet to see a single minute of action on the floor because of an injury.

And because the Painters have made it this far, Guiao said that the team was able to buy time for their prized sentinel.

“Paul Lee will be playing in the semis,” Guiao said as the Painters sealed a best-of-seven clash with defending champion San Miguel Beer starting Jan. 5 also at the Pasay venue.

“He (Lee) can be there quickly. Paul is determined and talented, it won’t take him too much time (to get adjusted back to the game),” Guiao said.

The other half of the Final Four will pit elimination round No. 1 Alaska against GlobalPort, the fifth-ranked squad which bundled out crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra in a controversial win on Sunday night.

Incidentally, the Gin Kings did not file a protest with the Office of the Commissioner on Monday, electing instead to let the Batang Pier march on without a hitch to their first-ever Final Four appearance.

But the Office of the Commissioner has summoned the four referees that worked that game for Tuesday where it will determine the gravity of the error in a meeting.

Sources said that at least one game official – the referee closest to the controversy – could be suspended for the rest of the season for failing to call a supposed ball-hogging violation on Stanley Pringle that resulted in an 84-83 overtime victory by the Batang Pier.

Game 1 of Alaska-GlobalPort will be on Jan. 4.

Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text were tied just once and when the Painters took the lead at 4-2, there was not stopping them.

Jason Castro paced the Texters with 25 points and Talk ‘N Text showed the ill effects of still not having the injured Ranidel de Ocampo.

The Rain or Shine victory also meant that the Painters are in the Final Four for the eighth straight time – the longest active streak in the league – and ninth in the last 10 conferences.

Yeng Guiao also beat a Talk ‘N Text team in a playoff matchup for the first time in 13 years, with his last win coming in the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup Finals while he was coaching Red Bull.