LETHAL WEAPON, RAIN OR SHINE FRUSTRATE GINEBRA IN QF SERIES OPENER

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TWICE before in this conference Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra met and for as many times the Kings’ lightning struck the Elasto Painters down.

Not anymore last Wednesday, when Paul Lee finally played against the perennial crowd favorites.

With  Lee keeping the team together, Rain or Shine had little trouble carving up an 82-65 victory over Barangay Ginebra that moved the former within another win of making the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jervy Cruz’s 14 points paced Rain or Shine and Beau Belga had 11 points and as many rebounds for his first conference double-double. But it was Lee’s presence which coach Yeng Guiao largely credited for their first win in the best-of-three quarterfinals duel.

“Definitely,” said Guiao of his combo guard who was laid off by a shoulder injury from last season and played only his second game. He was helplessly on the sidelines the first two times Rain or Shine and Ginebra met, including when the Kings came back from 17 points down to carve a 97-90 decision last Nov. 25.

The eagerness to help his team get back at the Kings visibly affected Lee at first, when he missed his first three tries from the field. He scored his first two points to open up second quarter scoring before exploding for seven of his total 11 in the third that sparked the E-Painters’ breakaway.

“He was kind of excited playing against Ginebra,” added Guiao. “It took him a while before he got started. Pero nu’ng nakuha na rhythm niya balik na ang dating laro niya.”

Guiao also said Lee should once again play a crucial role when they try to close out the series Friday.

“He’s a real matchup problem for the other team,” he pointed out. “He can shoot, rebound, pass.”

Rain or Shine playing a lot more energetically and winning the battle of the boards for the first time in the head-to-head to the tune of 55-53 also pleased Guiao.

“We played defense tonight, the energy was high and everybody was active,” Guiao pointed out. “I’m just happy that we avoided the thing I feared most, getting outrebounded. That was really our weakest department. The boys worked really hard to offset that disadvantage. So defensively everybody did their job. Rebounding-wise, we took care of business in terms of getting our share of the boards.”

Mark Caguioa scored a game-high 16 points and rookie Keith Jensen tied his career-high with 13, but those were all practically bled for in the face of Rain or Shine’s defense that also held down LA Tenorio to just six points and two assists.

“We did not expect this to be this easy, but then again this is just the first game,” said Guiao. “It’s also good we were able to take out LA and Mark out of their rhythm, but again I’m sure they’d be back in the second game.”

A lot of adjustments have to be made. The quick-switching defense on Lee worked, but only on Rain or Shine’s sets. When it came down to transition, Ginebra could only helplessly wallow in Lee’s wake.

That was showcased most during one crucial stretch in the third when Lee strung up his points that started an 18-0 run and staked the E-Painters to the game’s biggest difference at 59-31.

With the likes of Cruz, JR Quinahan and TY Tang chipping in Rain or Shine went into the final 8:28 of the game with a 69-43 lead and Guiao even had the luxury of fielding in his third-stringers in the last five minutes of the game. (NC)

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