RAIN OR SHINE IN SCARY COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN
With health woes and an awful shooting, Rain or Shine banked on extra effort to squeeze past expansion team Blackwater, 82-75, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
“We found a way on a bad night,” said coach Yeng Guiao after a struggle that saw them trail by 15 points before painstakingly working their way to steal the game.
Sophomore center Raymond Almazan scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Jeff Chan, Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood came through in the clutch as the Elasto Painters survived 0-of-25 three-point shooting to bounce back from a losing season debut against the San Miguel Beermen Tuesday.
“They gave us a real tough time and just our experience won us the game,” said Guiao.
“I guess people just tend to underestimate the expansion teams but they’re stronger than they look. If you’re not ready with them, they can spring surprises. We’re lucky to gather ourselves in time,” Guiao also said.
The no-nonsense RoS bench chieftain acknowledged the tough Blackwater defense that blanked them from beyond the arc and limited them to 32-of-84 shooting overall.
“It’s really just our experience that bailed us out,” he said.
Refusing to quit though playing catch-up most of the way, the Elasto Painters eventually found some rhythm in the fourth quarter and dealt the Elite a loss similar to the one they suffered against the Kia Sorento before a crowd of nearly 53,000 at the Philippine Arena Sunday.
The Elite, led by veteran player Eddie Laure and former RoS player Alex Nuyles, were still ahead at 62-55 early in the fourth quarter.
The Elasto Painters surged ahead, 66-62, on an 11-to-nothing run and eventually stole the game on a 14-5 closing flurry.
The E-Painters carved the win even with injured players Paul Lee and Chris Tiu confined on the bench due and Ryan Arana failing to finish the game after sustaining a hamstring pull.
“Ryan got hurt but I don’t know yet how serious is his injury,” said Guiao.
Bam Gamalinda drained a trey then Nuyles scored on a drive as Blackwater led by 13 points in the second quarter at 38-25.
Ogie Menor and Juami Tiongson also made key baskets as the Elite seized control late in the first quarter and held onto the lead, 40-31, at the half.
The Blackwater reserves outscored their RoS counterparts, 27-16, in the first 24 minutes of play.
The E-Painters, however, clobbered the Elite, 31-15, in the payoff period. (SB)
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