By Adrian Stewart Co

Blackwater Elite’s 111-99 come-from-behind win gave Rain or Shine Elasto Painters their first loss in the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Michael Digregorio torched the defense for Elite with 27 points, including seven triples; while Allein Maliksi and Chris Javier chipped in 23 and 16, respectively.

Elite surged to an early 15-5 lead behind Digregorio and Maliksi but the Painters turned things around in the second period behind James Yap and Rey Nambatac to take a 49-42 halftime lead.

The eventual winners countered with a strong run in the second half behind outside shots from Digregorio and inside hits from Javier, Emil Renz Palma, and Abu Tratter for an 83-79 edge.

Elite pulled further away in the fourth on baskets from Tratter and Paul Desiderio for its largest lead of 106-88 on a three-point play by Maliksi. The Painters tried to run but could only come to as close as 10 points.

Negrense Yap finished with 20 points for the Painters./ASC, WDJ