By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The defending champion Meralco Bolts dropped their third consecutive game after a 128-116 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Sunday night, April 27.
Negrense Raymar Jose finished with 21 points, on 8-of-10 field goal shooting, to go with six rebounds and one assist, but was unable to help the Bolts stop their current losing skid.
Leonard Santillan led the Painters with 27 points, including three three-point conversions.
Adrian Nocum chipped in 24 points, with 22 coming in the second half, as they improved to a 2-1 win-loss slate.
Gian Mamuyac contributed 24 markers, mostly coming in the third period, while Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti, Gabe Norwood and Jhonard Clarito ended with 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Painters.
The Painters were shorthanded with the absence of Beau Belga (vertigo), Caelan Tiongson (back spasms), Shawn Ildefonso (right ankle sprain), Keith Datu (right calf), and Luis Villegas (ACL surgery).
Holding to a slim 66-59 advantage at the half, the Painters went on a huge run in the third quarter behind Mamuyac, Pangilinan-Lemetti, Norwood, and Nocum as the lead reached its largest at 27 points at 112-85.
The Bolts countered with their outside shooting to cut the deficit to 108-120, but defensive stops from the Painters and a layup and two free throws from Nocum sealed their second straight win.
Kier John Quinto top-scored for the Bolts with 23 points, rookie Crispin John Cansino added 21 markers, and Chris Banchero contributed 14 points as they fell to their third straight loss for a 2-3 mark.
Meanwhile, the Converge FiberXers overcame TNT Tropang 5G’s numerous fightbacks to escape with a 100-94 victory.
Justin Arana led the way with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Justine Baltazar chipped in 21 markers and 12 boards./ASC, WDJ
RAIN OR SHINE 128 — Santillan 27, Mamuyac 24, Nocum 24, Lemetti 13, Norwood 12, Clarito 10, Malonzo 9, Caracut 7, Borboran 2, Asistio 0.
MERALCO 116 — Quinto 23, Jose 21, Cansino 21, Banchero 14, Hodge 8, Caram 7, Bates 6, Black 5, Rios 4, Newsome 3, Reyson 2, Almazan 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 29-28, 66-59, 102-82, 128-116.