RAIN OR SHINE NOW IN FRONT, 2-1

Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236

Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239

Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685

Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688

Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730

JUST when Rain or Shine’s top player was seemingly taken out of the game for good came a couple of Elasto Painters to the rescue.

Jeff Chan and Jericho Cruz took turns helping out Wayne Chism as Rain or Shine beat Talk N Text,  109-97, Sunday for a 2-1 lead in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Notwithstanding a hurting right foot Chan scattered seven of his 12 points in the third period and Cruz 10 of his 14 in the fourth enabling the Elasto Painters to keep their heads when the Tropang Texters trimmed what was once a 22-point deficit to just 13.

As a result, Rain or Shine followed up its 116-108 win in Game 2 and now has history on its side in the best-of-seven duel.

In similar race-to-four finals, 24 of 39 teams which took a 2-1 lead after a split went on to win the title. Ditto for consecutive game winners which has six of the last seven teams which won back-to-back matches also copping the crown.

“We played fantastic defense. We can attribute this win tonight to the fact everybody worked hard on defense,” said E-Painters coach Yeng Guiao, whose team held TNT to just a 31-for-80 field goal shooting.

“It’s just our determination to play good defense.”

For TNT coach Jong Uichico, the reverse is true. “We gave up too many points,” he said.

“Our total points would have been enough to win a regular game, but then we cannot win after giving up more at this stage.”

The victory may be a costly one, however, as Paul Lee found himself on the receiving end of a driving Ivan Johnson elbow that left the former with a bloodied mouth, one tooth knocked out and two others pushed inside his gum.

Lee sat out the final 5:06 of the third period. He returned with still 4:15 left in the game and added an assist and two points to wind up with 17 points and five assists in a little over 23 minutes of action.

“Paul Lee lost a tooth but we won the game, so okay na rin,” said Guiao.

Lee’s status for the next game Wednesday could be doubtful, however.

Guiao remains unperturbed but still warned about the physicality in the series getting out of hand, especially now that blood has been spilled.

Johnson finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds, with 11 of his points coming in the fourth period that stoked TNT’s charge to within 90-103 after the Texters trailed by as much as 71-93.

Jayson Castro capped a 20-pointfour-assist night with a drive that kept TNT within 94-107, but Lee escaped a double team for his own drive, practically sealing the outcome with just under two minutes left.

Ironically, it was when Lee was in the locker room receiving first aid treatment that Rain or Shine displayed its finest charge yet by steadily padding on to what was a 16-point 69-53 lead to 84-65 after three quarters behind Chism and Chan.

It was an ending that was seemed highly unlikely in the early goings.

Although Rain or Shine got off to a fine start and posted an early 17-4 spread, TNT grittily battled back and seemed to have gained more momentum when Kevin Alas made a double-clutch three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 45-52 at the half.

Back-to-back baskets by Johnson and Castro even put the Texters within 51-56 before Chism completed a three-point play while Beau Belga and Lee boomed in a triple each during a 13-2 surge that made it 69-53. (NC)

Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254

Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280

Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318

Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328

Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442

Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459

Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475

Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481

Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490

Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525

Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538

Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543

Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555

Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578

Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585

Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595

Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600

Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609

Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664

View comments

TAGS:

Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239

For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

Warning: Undefined array key "ss2_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1418