RAIN OR SHINE HANDS BARAKO BULL FIRST LOSS
Rain or Shine was completely determined and focused to get this game.
Imagine coach Yeng Guiao still using the board to devise a play in a timeout in the last 10 seconds with his troops leading by six.
The Elasto Painters executed the pattern perfectly with Gabe Norwood finishing an alley-oop on a thunderous jam and Rain or Shine capping a 91-83 win over the previously unbeaten Barako Bull side, 91-83, in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday.
TY Tang, Jeff Chan, Beau Belga and Jervy Cruz got the team to a good start, then the rest of the E-Painters provided help coming off the bench as they bounced back from a loss to the Barangay Ginebra Kings the last time out.
Rain or Shine seized solo third at 3-1 while relegating Barako Bull to joint fourth place with Talk n Text at 2-1.
“They gave us a hard time with their three-point shooting. We thought we prepared enough for their three-pointers. We challenged them but they still made it,” said Guiao.
“We survived a great game by Willie (Miller). It’s a learning experience for the rookies, needing to guard somebody like Miller,” Guiao also said.
Miller and Ronjay Buenafe made their shots but so did the E-Painters, giving Guiao a good amount of satisfaction.
“We like the win. We beat a team not beaten yet, and it gets us back on track,” said Guiao as they handed the Energy Cola their first defeat in the season following back-to-back wins over the Air21 Express and the Alaska Milk Aces.
With firm resolve, the E-Painters seized the early initiative, enjoying a 15-point spread right in the first quarter with Tang scoring nine.
The Energy Cola hung in the battle, but the E-Painters stayed in control, setting the pace to the finish.
Tang, JR Quinahan and Jeff Chan led Rain or Shine’s balanced scoring with 14, 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Rookies Jeric Teng and Raymond Almazan had significant contribution with the former tossing in 10 points and the latter eight.
Almazan helped his team keep Barako at bay in the fourth quarter, getting his minutes together with fellow rookies Teng and Alex Nuyles.
The No. 3 draft selection highlighted his game with a slam off a feed by Nuyles making it 84-75 with four minutes left to play. (SB)
The scores:
Rain or Shine 91 – Tang 14, Quinahan 13, Chan 11, Teng 10, Lee 10, Belga 8, Almazan 8, Cruz 6, Rodriguez 5, Arana 4, Norwood 2, Tiu 0, Nuyles 0, Ibanes 0.
Barako 83 – Miller 23, Buenafe 14, Macapagal 10, Wilson 10, Villanueva 8, Isip 6, Intal 5, Pennisi 5, Pena 2, Jensen 0, Labagala 0.
Quarters: 28-17, 47-44, 73-63, 91-83
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