The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters got their act together in time to pull off a 105-98 win against the previously unbeaten Phoenix Fuel Masters and barge into the win column of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday, July 21, at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
The Elasto Painters nearly squandered a 20-point lead after their former star player Gian Mamuyac, alongside his new teammates BJ Johnson, Tyler Tio and Ken Tuffin, fueled a comeback late in the second half.
But Rain or Shine found the stops as Adrian Nocum, Mike Malonzo and Aaron Fuller provided the offensive production that allowed the Elasto Painters to break out of a slump following a 0-2 start.
Fuller led the way with 28 points and 16 rebounds while Nocum shone with an all-around outing of 18 markers, six boards, eight assists, and two blocks.
“Wala lang, respeto lang, tsaka parang pamilya namin si Mamu. Hindi siya naiba sa amin. Medyo gaganda pa laro nu’n, kinakapa pa niya ‘yung laro niya,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said.
“Pero mabuti na lang second game namin kalaban na namin sila kasi ‘pag naka-fit na siya diyan, mahirap na rin siyang pigilan.”
Mamuyac, who was a non-factor in the first two quarters, made his presence felt late in the third after scoring six straight points that pulled Phoenix to within 10, 68-78, after trailing by as much as 20.
Mamuyac then dished out back-to-back passes that resulted in two straight triples from Bryan Santos before JL delos Santos knocked down a three-pointer of his own to trim the gap to just a point, 79-80, early in the fourth.
But the Elasto Painters responded with a 19-5 blast led by Nocum as Rain or Shine surged to another double-digit lead at 99-84.
The Fuel Masters once again mounted a rally with Johnson completing a three-point play and firing a triple before Tuffin drove from the left wing to sink a layup that trimmed the deficit to six, 102-98, with 1:34 left to play.
But a split from Caracut and Fuller’s layup off a pass from Nocum were all Rain or Shine needed to close it out and break through after losing its first two games against the Blackwater Bossing and the Meralco Bolts.
Johnson sizzled for 27 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two assists while Tuffin and Jason Perkins poured in 16 and 13 markers apiece.
Mamuyac finished with eight points, two rebounds and two assists. (ABS-CBN News)