ROS STOPS ALASKA RUN, SERIES TIED 1-1
Their six-game streak halted by Alaska the last time, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters returned the favor and took their turn to snap the Aces’ own searing run.
Beaten at endgame Friday, the Elasto Painters came back playing A-1 basketball throughout and foiled the Aces’ attempt to take a cmanding lead in the series.
Arizona Reid sizzled with 27 points and 13 rebounds and the E-Painters dominated the Aces with a high shooting clip, pulling off a 99-87 win that forged a 1-1 deadlock in their PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinal duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The E-Painters bounced back strong from their 93-97 defeat in Game One even with combo player Gabe Norwood sidelined by an ankle sprain, snapping the Aces’ five-game romp from the elims.
“Everybody just stepped up for Gabe. We’re trying to buy some time for Gabe to get well. It gives us the confidence to beat Alaska in his absence with everybody making a contribution,” said coach Yeng Guiao.
“Our intensity level was a lot different from the last time. We wanted it more than they did tonight. We hope to sustain that desire,” Guiao added.
Paul Lee, Jeff Chan and Chris Tiu were the others who stepped up big time in this game marred by the ejection of Gabby Espinas on two technical fouls and a flagrant foul committed by Henry Walker after shoving Belga hard with 8:13 to go in the third quarter.
The fiery RoS bench chieftain thought the refs were lenient on Walker on that instance, saying the Alaska import should’ve been ejected for the unnecessary attack on Belga.
Nonetheless, the E-Painters breezed through despite the return of Walker in the fourth quarter.
Lee contributed 21 points and seven rebounds, Chan chipped in 18 markers and Tiu added 10 for the E-Painters who came through with a spate of key runs in the middle quarters to pull away at 71-45.
Alaska actually fought to within nine early in the fourth but then Lee, Chan and Tiu drained clutch outside shots as Rain or Shine reestablished commanding double-digit spreads and went on to nail the crucial series equalizer.
With Walker sitting down three minutes after his flagrant infraction, the E-Painters pressed their attack and took the 26-point bubble.
Reid poured in 20 points right in the first half while Lee sparkled with 10 in the second period as the Elasto Painters sat on a 50-38 cushion at the turn.
Trailing by four, 17-21, after the opening quarter, the E-Painters seized control in the second period with a decisive attack highlighted by the perfect combined 6-of-6 field shooting and 4-of-4 charities by Reid and Lee. (SB)
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 99 – Reid 27, Lee 21, Chan 18, Tiu 10, Belga 7, Arana 6, Teng 4, Cruz 2, Almazan 2, Nuyles 2, Ibanes 0, Rodriguez 0.
ALASKA 87 – Manuel 22, Walker 18, Casio 11, Thoss 9, Espinas 8, Abueva 8, Hontiveros 3, Baguio 3, Dela Cruz 2, Buenafe 2, Jazul 1, Bugia 0, Reyes 0, Belasco 0.
Quarterscores: 17-21, 50-38, 77-59, 99-87
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