By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on a huge fourth quarter run to prevail over the Blackwater Bossing, 110-103, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila on Saturday, April 6.
Trailing for most part of the game, the Painters slowly clawed their way back to tie the score at 92-all before taking a 96-92 lead on back-to-back connections from Jhonard Clarito and Leonard Santillan.
The Bossing tried to keep the match close, but timely conversions from Andrei Caracut, Beau Belga, Gian Mamuyac, and Santillan established a 110-103 lead with less than a minute left.
Santillan top-scored for the Painters with 28 points. Belga added 21 markers, while Clarito and Caracut contributed 16 and 12, respectively, as they improved to a 3-4 win-loss slate after recording their third straight win.
“We have been playing very good second halves, ‘yung tatlong panalo namin. Medyo masama ‘yung simula namin, but we were able to recover,” Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said.
“I think it’s just we are getting our rhythm back or playing consistently,” he said.
“I am not happy with our free throw shooting, our boxing out, and our outside shooting, but we are finding ways to win, so I cannot complain much,” he added.
Rey Suerte led the way for the Bossing with 20 points. Rey Nambatac added 13 markers, while James Kwekuteye and Jeth Troy Rosario ended with 11 and 10, respectively.
They dropped to a 3-3 record.
Meanwhile, the NLEX Road Warriors leaned on a blazing start before holding off the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 87-74, to move up to solo second place with a 5-1 record. The Hotshots dropped to 1-2.
Robert Bolick, Jr. led the way with 26 points, nine assists and three rebounds, while Anthony Semerad had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Road Warriors.
“Our defense did well against [Magnolia’s] small guys. I just felt that all the practices we have the past week did well for us,” Road Warriors head coach Frankie Lim said.
“My guys played well offensively and defensively. They stuck on our game plan,” he added./ASC, WDJ
RAIN OR SHINE 110 — Santillan 28, Belga 21, Clarito 16, Caracut 12, Mamuyac 8, Demusis 7, Norwood 6, Borboran 6, Ildefonso 5, Nocum 1, Asistio 0, Belo 0.
BLACKWATER 103 — Suerte 20, Nambatac 13, Kwekuteye 11, Rosario 10, Tungcab 9, Casio 9, Hill 7, Chua 6, David 6, Guinto 5, Ilagan 5, Sena 2, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 22-28, 49-54, 80-84, 110-103.