Rain or Shine, twice losing finalist last season, sustained its consistent run, repulsing Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 100-90, to book a fifth straight PBA semifinals entry.
Beau Belga matched a career high 21 points and the Elasto Painters outmaneuvered the Kings in an up-tempo battle, pulling off a 100-90 victory that netted them outright semis passage in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Ahead of the coming typhoon, the E-Painters came out with their own storm, roaring to a seventh straight victory and a closing 9-2 win-loss record in the elimination round.
They take at least a 10-day breather before plunging back into action in the all-Filipino tourney where they finished second to San Mig Coffee (Purefoods Star) last year.
Ginebra wound up with a 6-5 win-loss record. But regardless of the outcome of the closing playdate of the elims Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome, the Kings are assured of a twice-to-beat advantage in the initial stage of the quarterfinals.
“The guys really wanted this win. This is our best chance to get into the semis. We don’t want to go the long way. It’s a risky proposition,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“We’re a little tired coming from back-to-back games, but we were able to sustain a fast pace,” Guiao also said. “I’m worried of our legs. Our best chance to win is with a quick-paced game. That’s what we did in our last few games.”
Imposing their game, the E-Painters dominated the crippled Ginebra team, leading by as many as 23 points to keep a sizzling streak marked by earlier triumphs over Barako Bull, GlobalPort, Meralco, NLEX, Purefoods and Alaska.
The E-Painters overcame a slow 2-2 season start with losses to the San Miguel Beermen and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.
Rain or Shine even takes playoffs top seeding if San Miguel drops its last game versus Blackwater.
Belga went 6-of-8 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line in tying his career-best output. The former PCU Dolphin also chalked up five rebounds and two assists as he fared well against Ginebra giants Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.
Paul Lee fired 18 points while JR Quinahan and Jeff Chan rifled in 11 apiece as the E-Painters drubbed the Ginebra side playing minus Jayjay Helterbrand, Josh Urbiztondo and Chris Ellis.
LA Tenorio, Slaughter and Aguilar paced the Kings with 14 points each.
Belga outperformed Slaughter and Aguilar with the Gilas reserve striking hardest in the payoff period.
As Ginebra came to within seven at 76-83 early in the fourth, Belga poured in nine points in a decisive 12-4 run to ease mounting pressure for RoS. (SB)
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