The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters opened their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup campaign in winning fashion.
The Yeng Guiao-mentored squad dumped the Blackwater Bossing, 11-97, during their bout on Tuesday evening, August 20, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City to improve to 1-0 in Group B in the eliminations.
Returning import Aaron Fuller led the E-Painters with 24 points, 19 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block, as he was one of the eight ROS players who scored at least eight points.
Also standing out were rookie Caelan Tiongson who had 15 markers, five boards and two dimes, Santi Santillan who had 12, another neophyte in Felix Lemetti who scored 11, Gian Mamuyac who delivered 10, while Anton Asistio, Rence Nocum and Jhonard Clarito finished with 10, nine, eight, and eight, respectively.
Only trailing by nine at halftime as the Bossing did their best to stay within striking distance, they suddenly saw themselves down by 17, 67-50, after ROS charged on an eight-to-nothing run which was capped by a lay-in by Mamuyac at the 8:45 mark of the third.
It even grew to as much as 21, 83-62, after Lemetti hit a triple late in the same frame after an assist by Shaun Ildefonso, and that proved to be enough for Guiao’s troops to fend off Blackwater despite the late surge of Troy Rosario that brought down their deficit to three possessions, 100-90, with still 2:27 remaining in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Sedrick Barefield was another rookie who made some noise in his PBA debut as he top-scored for the Bossing with 18 points on top of four rebounds and an assist.
Former San Beda ace James Kwekuteye followed him with 17 markers, Brad Guinto had 15, while Rosario made 10 points — eight came in the final frame — together with six rebounds, a steal and an assist.
Blackwater import and former New York Knick Ricky Ledo finished with 12 points and eight boards, but only shot 4-of-23 from the field for 17.4 percent. (ABS-CBN News)
RAIN OR SHINE 110 — Fuller 24, Tiongson 15, Santillan 12, Lemetti 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 9, Nocum 8, Clarito 8, Ildefonso 4, Villegas 4, Datu 3, Belga 2, Caracut 0, Norwood 0.
BLACKWATER 97 — Barefield 18, Kwekuteye 17, Guinto 15, Ledo 12, Rosario 10, David 7, Chua 6, Casio 5, Tungcab 3, Suerte 2, Jopia 2, Montalbo 0, Ponferada 0, Hill 0, Mitchell 0.
Quarterscores: 30-26, 59-50, 83-62, 110-97.