RAIN OR SHINE OUTSHOOTS NLEX, NOTCHES FIRST WIN
THE support to Rick Jackson Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao wanted came, and in the most opportune time Tuesday.
Paul Lee led a swirling windup by the Elasto Painters that NLEX had no answer for, resulting in a 96-91 victory by the former in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jonathan Uyloan and Gabe Norwood also played big roles down the stretch, enabling Rain or Shine to bounce back from an 86-89 loss to Talk ‘N Text in their opening game last Wednesday and tie idle GlobalPort with an even 1-1 slate behind the unbeaten lead pack.
Jeff Chan, Raymund Almazan, Beau Belga and Ryan Arana also did their part, helping Jackson overcome his shooting woes and quash a gallant opening stand by Al Thornton and the rest of the Road Warriors.
It was clearly Lee who stood out as he scored eight of his points inside the last 2:53, sparking and fueling the E-Painters’ finish after NLEX completed its charge from the last 11-point deficit and took an 84-83 edge.
Jackson also did his part while Lee trickled in a fallaway that gave Rain or Shine back the upper hand, Uyloan boomed in a triple and Norwood a layup off a nifty spin, providing the inside presence and help defense that stymied both Thornton and Asi Taulava in the stretch.
“Our import struggled in offense but he was there in defense and rebounding,” said Guiao, before shrugging off questions about whether original choice Wayne Chism, who’s been freed up from his commitments with an Israeli ballclub, would be coming in.
“I can’t say we’re settled with him (Jackson),” said Guiao, “But he’ll continue to play for us as long as we’re winning and we’re having the kind of games he’s providing us, exactly the kind of things we need in a big man.”
Lee wound up with a team-high 25 points on an 8-for-11 field shooting while Jackson scored only 17 points on 8-for-20 shooting but hauled down 20 rebounds, issued five assists and blocked four shots.
Thornton notched 28 points and 12 rebounds, Rudy Lingganay added a new career-high 19 points and Taulava 17 to go with 10 rebounds while taking Thornton’s lead in keying the Road Warriors’ fightback from its last 11-point deficit at 47-58.
Rain or Shine simply won’t be denied, however, coming into the game as it did with a noble gesture.
Rain or Shine showed up with the No. 44 stitched on the left side of their jerseys while the coaching staff had black armbands to honor the SAF officers killed in Maguindanao last Jan. 25. Management said the number would be worn for the rest of the conference.
“We want to pay tribute to the 44 lives who perished,” explained Guiao. “Gusto naming bigyan ng pagpapahalaga ang kanilang sakripisyo, makiramay sa mga pamilya nila. This is our own way of giving tribute. We’re just sympathizing, giving due importance to their sacrifice.”
NLEX almost gave Rain or Shine its own personal reason to grieve.
Taking the cue from Thornton, who scored 19 of his points in the second half, the Road Warriors waged a gallant fightback from their last 11-point deficit at 47-58 and scored the first seven points of the fourth period to close in at 72-73.
Macmac Cardona and Lingganay chipped in, but it was Taulava scoring on a putback that finally gave NLEX the upper hand 84-83, its first taste of the lead since 2-0. (NC)
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 96 – Lee 25, Jackson 17, Almazan 10, Uyloan 9, Norwood 8, Chan 8, Arana 6, Ibanes 5, Cruz 4, Tang 2, Belga 2, Tiu 0, Quinahan 0.
NLEX 91 – Thornton 28, Lingganay 19, Taulava 17, Cardona 7, Borboran 6, Ramos 6, Villanueva J. 4, Canaleta 2, Villanueva E. 2, Hermida 0, Camson 0, Apinan 0, Arboleda 0, Baloria 0, Soyud 0.
Quarterscores: 25-18, 43-34, 73-65, 96-91
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.
