By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on a huge endgame surge to defeat TNT Tropang Giga, 106-100, in the 2023 PBA on Tour at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday evening, July 12.

Down 96-98 after a basket by Tropang Giga’s Gryann Mendoza, the Painters managed to tie the score at 98-all on two free throws by Gian Mamuyac before they took the lead at 102-98 on a layup and a jumper from Anton Asistio.

The Tropang Giga cut the deficit to 100-102 after an inside hit by Dave Marcelo, but a corner triple by Leonard Santillan and a split free throw by Beau Belga sealed the win for the Painters.

Mamuyac finished the game with double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists and four steals as the Painters stayed in second place in the standings with a 6-1 win-loss slate.

Asistio tallied 16 points, including two three-point conversions, Santillan contributed 13 markers and seven boards, while Jewel Ponferrada and Jhonard Clarito had 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Painters.

Glenn Khobuntin had a double-double 24 points and 15 rebounds, Frederick Tungcab added 16 markers, while Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo and Carl Bryan Cruz had 12 each as the Tropang Giga remained winless in seven games.

In the first game, Meralco Bolts broke away from sister team NLEX Road Warriors in the second half to score a 96-83 victory. The Bolts improved to 6-3 with the win, while the Road Warriors dropped to 3-5.

Holding to a 60-59 lead with three minutes in the third quarter, Jansen Rios scored four straight points followed by baskets from Kyle Pascual and Franky Johnson to build a 71-62 lead.

Meralco continued its run in the fourth quarter with inside hits from Pascual and Norbert Torres and consecutive outside shots from Alvin Pasaol as the lead reached 13 points with a minute left.

Pasaol top-scored for the Bolts with 25 points, including seven three-point conversions, Raymond Almazan and Johnson had 12 and 10, respectively, while Allein Maliksi and Diego Dario ended with 11 each.

RAIN OR SHINE 106 — Mamuyac 21, Asistio 16, Santillan 13, Ponferrada 12, Clarito 10, Borboran 8, Ildefonso 8, Belga 8, Caracut 7, Demusis 3, Belo 0.

TNT 100 — Khobuntin 24, Tungcab 16, Cruz 12, Montalbo 12, Vosotros 11, Exciminiano 6, Marcelo 6, Cuntapay 4, Flores 4, Mendoza 3, Jopia 2, Alfaro 0.

Quarterscores: 24-26, 52-46, 74-76, 106-100./ASC, WDJ