RAIN OR SHINE SEALS FINALS REMATCH AGAINST SAN MIG COFFEE
It’s San Mig Coffee-Rain or Shine Finals Part III.
The Elasto Painters overcame Saturday night the gritty challenge of the badly crippled but fierce-fighting Alaska Milk Aces, carving out a nerve-wracking 97-94 victory to set up a third final showdown with the Mixers in seven conferences.
Sans three key players, the Aces waged a whale of a fight but the E-Painters refused to crack, nailing the second berth in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors Cup finale to the delight of their cheering throngs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Arizona Reid produced game highs of 35 points and 10 rebounds while Paul Lee seized the moment in the crunch as the E-Painters took their semis series versus the Aces and remained the last obstacle the Mixers have to break through in their grand slam quest.
One may call it the “tiebreaker” with Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee having split two previous title collisions.
They figure in a best-of-five finale beginning Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“We’ll not be out there to try to stop history of San Mig Coffee. I don’t think that’s the purpose. We want to make our own history,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“It’s not trying to stop them. It’s trying to win a championship,” Guiao added.
Guiao declared that goal after getting a sigh of relief in their gripping battle with the Aces.
Even minus the injury-stricken Sonny Thoss, Jayvee Casio and Gabby Espinas, the Aces came out to challenge the E-Painters hard, refusing to yield until the final buzzer.
The Elasto Painters eventually pulled through as Henry Walker missed a game-tying three-point attempt in the waning seconds.
“It’s a hard series. Alaska just showed a lot of guts, showed great tenacity. We just couldn’t shake them off even without their key players,” said Guiao.
“We’re in the finals perhaps because of destiny. It’s hard to find destiny. Hindi namin kasalanan na nadulas si (Jayvee) Casio in the last game. At hindi namin kasalanan na hindi sila nakalaro ngayon,” Guiao also said.
“It’s nice to be good but it’s nicer to be lucky. I’m not taking the credit away from our guys. It’s not that we don’t deserve it. Pero ang mukhang nangyari talagang if it’s for you, it’s for you,” he added.
Casio and Thoss sat out the game due to injuries suffered in the last game. Espinas wasn’t around for a fractured right foot also sustained in Game Four. He’s set to undergo surgery.
Walker, Vic Manuel, Dondon Hontiveros, Cyrus Baguio and Calvin Abueva carried the fight for the Aces as they dragged the E-Painters to a furious faceoff marked by seven deadlocks and eight lead changes.
It was a dogfight that saw neither team leading by more than seven.
The game was very much in the balance when Lee got a huge loose ball recovery then, fouled by Walker, made two crucial charities to give Rain or Shine the 97-94 lead with 12.7 ticks left.
Still, the Aces had a chance to send the game into OT but Walker missed the potential equalizer.
Picking up from his 32-point job the last time, Reid scattered 21 points right in the first half, including a trey in the closing seconds giving the E-Painters a 55-52 lead at the turn.
As in Game Four, Hontiveros drained five three-pointers just in the second period while Walker and Manuel made 12 and 10, respectively, in the opening half.
The Aces were the more rugged team in the first two quarters, giving away 16 fouls as against the Elasto Painters’ eight.
Third-string guard Raphie Reyes accounted for four infractions, including a technical foul and a flagrant foul resulting to an early ejection.
The Elasto Painters cashed in on those fouls, converting 15 of 16 charities. The Aces had only eight free throws, making seven.
By the third period, Reid had had 33 markers, but the E-Painters were still barely ahead at 80-77.
But Rain or Shine just won’t be denied in the end. (SB)
The scores:
Rain or Shine 97 – Reid 35, Lee 10, Norwood 10, Uyloan 8, Rodriguez 8, Arana 5, Chan 5, Belga 4, Almazan 4, Cruz 3, Tiu 3, Ibanes 2, Teng 0.
Alaska 94 – Walker 29, Manuel 20, Hontiveros 17, Baguio 11, Abueva 9, Dela Cruz 5, Jazul 3, Reyes 0, Belasco 0, Eman 0.
Quarterscores: 29-25, 55-52, 80-77, 97-94.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
