RAIN OR SHINE DOWNS ALASKA BEHIND BIG FINISH
With Rain or Shine’s chips down, old import Wayne Chism came to give the team the needed boost.
Chism came at the right time, perking up the Elasto Painters on the sidelining of Paul Lee as they whipped the Alaska Aces, 99-89, to move up to joint third in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
“Good break for us and good debut for Wayne,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“I just knew Paul wasn’t playing when I came in before the game. I knew he’s hurt in practice but I didn’t know he won’t be able to play. Had I known, we would have prepared more,” Guiao pointed out.
“It’s really a good break as we survived horrible free throws and the absence of Paul.”
Rain or Shine made a decisive closing flurry from an 86-85 count and turned back Alaska, 99-89, to tie Purefoods at third place at 4-2.
Alaska, meanwhile, slid down to 2-3 despite the return of chief playmaker Jvee Casio and Damion James’ own solid PBA debut.
“The score doesn’t tell how close this game was. We just made our shots when it counted the most,” said Guiao.
Gabe Norwood dealt the Aces the lethal blows as he rattled in seven straight points from that 86-85 count.
As Norwood canned in a short side jumper to cap his seven-point binge and a 14-point job the whole night, the E-Painters peeled away at 93-85 with 1:16 left to play.
The E-Painters actually took control most of the way after a solid start by Chism, Jeff Chan, TY Tang and Norwood, but the Aces fought back from a 14-point deficit and surged ahead at the outset of the payoff period.
Chism and the E-Painters won’t be denied though.
In his PBA return after helping RoS to a third place finish in the same tourney last year, Chism collected 24 points and 22 rebound.
James, for his part, piled up 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Aces.
“He justified our move. He knows the guys, he’s adapted to our system and he’s in shape,” said Guiao of Chism.
Chan, Norwood, Chris Tiu, Beau Belga and Jonathan Uyloan also stepped up in the absence of the injury-hit Lee, delivering more than their usual numbers.
Chan nailed three three-pointers and a total of 18 points while Norwood, Tiu, Uyloan and Belga added at least nine points each. (SB)
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