RAIN OR SHINE DEMOLISHES ALASKA IN DAVAO
DAVAO CITY. — Jervy Cruz took care of the inside while Jeff Chan sizzled from outside, helping Rain or Shine to an 87-74 triumph over Alaska in the third and final season-opening day offering of the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the packed University of Southeastern Philippines Gym here.
The PBA Press Corps’ Mr, Quality Minutes awardee this past season, Cruz finished with 12 points and the same number of rebounds while Chan tallied 17 points built around four triples as the Elasto Painters took control right at the start en route to a 49-34 halftime lead.
Rain or Shine, which made it to its first-ever Philippine Cup Finals appearance last season before being swept by Talk ‘N Text, led by as much as 53-35 early in the third period on free throws by rookie Alex Nuyles.
Alaska made an effort to trim the deficit to just nine, 57-48, following a 13-4 onslaught but the Elasto Painters answered back, scoring the next 11 points to pad their lead back up to 20 near the end of the third canto.
Three straight three-pointers by Alaska shoved the Aces to within nine points in a last-ditch stand with under a minute left in the game but they simply ran out of time. (RJ)
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