By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters snapped Blackwater Bossing’s three-game winning run with a wire-to-wire 131-108 victory in the 2023 PBA on Tour at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Sunday night, July 23.
Leonard Santillan led the way with 24 points, including four three-point conversions, while Andrei Caracut chipped in 18 markers as the Painters stayed in second place with an 8-2 win-loss slate.
Gian Mamuyac tallied 17 markers and six rebounds, while Shaun Ildefonso, Jhonard Clarito and Nicholas Demusis also contributed double-digits with 12, 11 and 10, respectively, for the Painters.
The Painters caught fire early behind Ildefonso and Rey Mark Belo for a 33-27 lead. The onslaught continued in the second period behind Caracut and Santillan to establish a 64-53 halftime lead.
Rain or Shine maintained their aggression in the second half with inside connections from Beau Belga and Santillan as the lead reached its biggest at 126-97 via a three-pointer from Caracut.
RK Ilagan top-scored with 18 points, Michael Digregorio and Jeth Troy Rosario added 17 and 15 markers, respectively, while Renato Ular and Rashawn McCarthy had 14 each as the Bossing dropped to third with a 6-4 mark.
Meanwhile, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots moved closer to sweeping the pre-season tournament after a 111-91 beating of Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters. The Hotshots now have a 10-0 record, while the Fuel Masters ended with a 3-8 slate.
Clinging to an 82-80 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Hotshots got back-to-back three-pointers from Jerrick Ahanmisi followed by a layup from Calvin Abueva to stretch the advantage to 91-82.
The Fuel Masters trimmed the deficit to seven with a Rodolfo Alejandro layup, but connections from Joseph Eriobu, Andy Mark Barroca and Jed Mendoza allowed the Hotshots to pull away at 111-89.
Jiovani Jalalon top-scored for the Hotshots with 22 points to go with nine assists, Barroca added 19 markers, while Aris Dionisio and Ahanmisi ended with 15 and 11 markers, respectively.
RAIN OR SHINE 131 — Santillan 24, Caracut 18, Mamuyac 17, Ildefonso 12, Clarito 11, Demusis 10, Asistio 9, Ponferrada 9, Belga 8, Belo 7, Borboran 6.
BLACKWATER 108 — Ilagan 18, DiGregorio 17, Rosario 15, Ular 14, McCarthy 14, Suerte 11, Amer 6, Escoto 6, Casio 3, Publico 3, Banal 1, Ayonayon 0.
Quarterscores: 33-27, 64-53, 103-87, 131-108./ASC, WDJ