RAIN OR SHINE NEARS TWICE-TO-BEAT EDGE
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters returned from a heartbreaker determined not to commit a mistake twice over.
Keeping in their mind the lesson of their 84-89 loss to the Alaska Milk Aces a week ago, the E-Painters clobbered the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 106-97, to pull closer to a second-place finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.
The E-Painters stormed to a 23-point lead in the third quarter and refused to let their guards down, assuring themselves of a playoff shot at a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with a ninth win against four losses.
“We didn’t want to commit the same mistake we made against Alaska. We got a big lead and lost it as we relaxed. We made sure that same thing didn’t happen today,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“We were able to push the pace as planned. High scoring ball game is good for us. And I thought they gave up early on their import. They didn’t use him most of the second half, and that was good for us,” Guiao also said.
DJ Mbenga sat out the last 19 minutes of the game after Rain or Shine had pulled away at 84-61.
Nonetheless, the E-Painters hardly relaxed, scoring the victory that stretched their lead to one and a half games over the third-running Petron Blaze Boosters (7-5).
“We don’t want a playoff game. We want an automatic twice-to-beat advantage,” said Guiao, expressing determination to get the E-Painters past the Meralco Bolts in their match at the close of the eliminations Wednesday.
“If you go through a playoff (for No. 2 spot), parang dumaan ka na rin sa best-of-three. We don’t want that,” Guiao pointed out.
Bruno Sundov collected 25 points and 15 rebounds while Paul Lee and Ryan Arana combined for 37 markers and 10 boards as they did the biggest damage on the Energy Cola whom they dealt a ninth loss against four wins.
The Energy Cola need to win their last game against the Globalport Batang Pier Sunday and hope the Air21 Express lose to the Petron Blaze Boosters Saturday to force a tie at eighth place.
Sundov banged away two triples then converted a sky hook as Rain or Shine padded its 48-38 halftime count to 62-41.
Arana had big contribution in their third-period assault, putting in 10 in the quarter after making seven in the first half. (SB)
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