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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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24
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
24
2024
RAIN or Shine was desperately looking for anything to latch on and save its floundering PBA Governors Cup campaign.
A massacre of a win over Blackwater could just turn things around for the Elasto Painters.
The Elasto Painters got sterling performances up and down their bench to sustain a fiery start and pull off a 123-85 victory over the free-falling Elite Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in the 2015 PBA Governors.
Wendell McKines did not have to work as long and as hard but still wound up with his sixth straight double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds while the likes of fellow starters Paul Lee and TY Tang and relievers Jervy Cruz and Jeff Chan did their part.
The rout was Rain or Shine’s biggest since a 51-point drubbing of Alaska almost exactly a year ago, arrested the E-Painters’ two-game slide and jacked their overall win-loss record to 2-4.
It should also tremendously boost the morale of a team that has been on survival mode in the conference, a far cry from the same squad that has made it deep in the playoffs the last 10 conferences.
“It’s unusual, it’s disappointing,” admitted Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. “In the last eight, nine conferences we’re making the playoffs. There’s a danger now. We’re in unfamiliar territory.
“We’re just trying to get a win. When you’re drowning you’ll try to cling to it… anything to give you buoyancy.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been in a situation like this,” admitted Guiao. “We’re struggling, we’re just living day to day. But a win like this gives our confidence a boost. We’re still not giving up on this conference.”
Getting into any kind of a groove is not to be had this time by Blackwater as it got shoved deeper in the cellar with a 1-6 slate, its chances of making it to the ensuing quarterfinals hinging on whether it could sweep its last four games and hope five wins would be enough.
The Elite, who suffered their worst loss in their young franchise’s existence in the league, certainly gave up the ghost early on this one, with Marcus Douthit sitting it out for good in the fourth period after notching just 14 points and five rebounds.
Raphy Reyes scored 10 of his 13 points in the last canto, Robby Celiz eight of his 10 and Eddie Laure all six of his output. But even all their concerted efforts could not stem the inexorable charge of a Rain or Shine team running on all cylinders.
All but one of the 15 players fielded in by Guiao scored with Cruz notching 15, Lee 13, Chan 12, Tang 11 and Beau Belga 10. Raymond Almazan, who got his tooth pulled after a 103-112 loss to Barako Bull last Sunday, was fielded in the last 7:23 of the game and delivered eight points and four rebounds for a conference-high effort like those of Chan, Tang and Cruz.
With his team seizing full control as early as the last five minutes of the first period and stretching the difference to a high of 113-73, Guiao is hoping the worst is behind his crew.
What is important, added Guiao, is that his squad stayed alive in its bid for inclusion among the top eight teams advancing to the next round, a bridge Rain or Shine will cross once it gets there.
“I hope when we’re in the playoffs we’ll get our bearings back,” stated Guiao.
The 38-point margin was the most lopsided PBA game ever at the MOA Arena and was the second most-lopsided this season overall, next only to Alaska’s 105-64 rout of Meralco October 31 last year in the Philippine Cup.
Blackwater’s previous worst loss in the PBA was a 91-62 defeat at the hands of San Miguel Beer December 9 last year also in this season’s all-Filipino tourney. (NC)
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 123 – McKines 15, Cruz Jervy 15, Lee 13, Chan 12, Tang 11, Belga 10, Cruz Jericho 9, Teng 8, Almazan 8, Norwood 7, Ibanes 5, Quinahan 5, Tiu 3, Arana 2, Uyloan 0.
BLACKWATER 85 – Douthit 14, Reyes 13, Faundo 10, Celiz 10, Cervantes 8, Acuna 7, Heruela 6, Laure 6, Ballesteros 4, Salvacion 3, Timberlake 2, Golla 2, Erram 0, Bulawan 0, Gamalinda 0.
Quarterscores: 30-22, 61-35, 87-56, 123-85
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