RAIN or Shine stayed composed in the face of Blackwater's fiery touch and got the breaks in the stretch that mattered most to carve out a 120-106 victory Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Adrian Nocum, Santi Santillan and birthday celebrant Caelan Tiongson were the Elasto Painters who figured most prominently during an 18-4 windup that plucked them out of the last tie at 102-all and into a third win in five games.
The windup was in direct contrast to the same Rain or Shine team that trailed by as much as 55-64 and 60-68 at the half when Blackwater was torching the hoops.
"'Yung shooting nila masyadong maganda, they were shooting their 3s and they were even making their 4s," said E-Painters coach Yeng Guiao.
"Sabi ko lang, we were playing the pace that we wanted. Maybe in the fourth quarter we will get a break," added Guiao. "True enough. we played better defense in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. So nalampasan lang namin 'yung torrid shooting percentage nila."
Sponsored content:
Blackwater was at its hottest during the second period when it shot 15-of-25 from the floor, including 4-of-9 from the three-point area, compared to Rain or Shine's 8-of-20 clip.
Largely keeping the E-Painters within striking distance was Keith Datu, who scored 20 of his teamhigh 27 points in the first half while Nocum scored six of his 23 points during that endgame tear.
Tiongson, whose return from a two-game absence due to back spasm coincided with his 33rd birthday, tossed in 14 points with Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, Jhonard Clarito and Santillan chipping in at least 10 points each.
Also making their presence felt after getting sidelined by injuries were Christian David and Sedrick Barefield with the former leading Blackwater after notching 28 points and Barefield supplying 23 markers.
Along with RK Ilagan (16 points) and Mike Ayonayon (nine points) the Bossing actually boomed in 15 3-pointers and three four-pointers, highlighted by a heave by David from before mid-court that pulled the Bossing within 33-37 at the end of the opening period.
Sponsored content:
But Blackwater's touch from beyond and inside the arcs went cold while Rain or Shine mainly opted for strong drives that sparked and fueled the latter's surge for home and the bounce-back from a 97-107 loss to Converge its last time out.
"It's a testimony to the patience of the guys and not folding up despite the torrid shooting of Blackwater," said Guiao. (NC)
The Scores :
RAIN OR SHINE 120 - Datu 27, Nocum 23, Tiongson 14, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 11, Clarito 10, Santillan 9, Lemetti 8, Norwood 3, Asistio 3, Belga 0.
BLACKWATER 106 - David 28, Barefield 23, Ilagan 16, Ayonayon 9, Casio 8, Guinto 6, Andrade 5, Escoto 5, Mallilin 4, Chua 2, Tratter 0.
QUARTERS: 37-33, 60-68, 91-91, 120-106
