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Lee delivers in clutch as Rain or Shine repulses Alaska for 1-0 Finals lead
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Paul Lee vs Alaska defenders. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Paul Lee, all-tournament long in search of his old form coming from an injury, showed up as the Paul Lee of old in the opener of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, leading Rain or Shine to a 105-97 win over Alaska Milk at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Lee came through with a conference best 20 points, including a lethal trey at the finish as the Elasto Painters withstood Rob Dozier’s superb 41-point game and gained the decisive head start in the best-of-seven titular series.
Rain or Shine was holding a shaky two-point lead at 96-94 when Lee bombed away the biggest of his four three-pointers with 51.4 ticks to go.
“We knew Paul’s getting back his games. Three or four games ago, he’s getting into the groove. This is the right time — championship, game on the line. He’s back and he’s back with his role as the leader of the team,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Maverick Ahanmisi canned in four charities later to help seal the deal.
A lot of help came along for Rain or Shine including from Beau Belga, Jericho Cruz and Gabe Norwood who churned out double-digit numbers.
Pierre Henderson Niles produced only 13 rebounds and six points but helped a lot on his good defensive job on Dozier at the finish.
“Dozier played great. He didn’t seem to be missing his shots. Ayaw magmintis in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, I experimented playing Pierre on him. They’re collegiate teammates and might be familiar. And he started missing some shots,” said Guiao.
“When our locals we’re guarding him, halos ayaw magmintis. We’re kind of waiting for him to miss. It didn’t seem to work until the fourth when we put Pierre on him,” Guiao added.
Outrunning and outgunning the Aces at the get-go, the E-Painters erected an early double-digit spread at 18-7, then stretched it to 24-10 before settling for a 51-46 lead at the half.
Paul Lee and Jericho Cruz handled the Alaska pressure at the backcourt with ease, leading the way for the E-Painters with 13 and 10 points, respectively, in the first 24 minutes.
Cruz started so strong that he outscored the entire Aces, 12-10, in the first six minutes of the game.
The ROS sophomore guard scored on a layup off Dozier to cap a 10-to-nothing roll that opened their 18-7 spread – a lead they held on until a Dozier-led third-quarter surge came along, pushing Alaska ahead at 66-63.
Dozier and Cyrus Baguio put in 12 apiece as the Aces went on a roll in the third and held on a 77-74 lead going into the payoff period.
From 87-all, JR Quinahan drilled in a 10-footer, Gabe Norwood fired a trey then converted a left-handed layup, and the E-Painters regained control at 94-87, prompting Alaska to sue for a timeout with 5:30 to go.
But there’s not stopping the E-Painters.
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