The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters continues their hot streak as they clinch their fourth straight victory, and improve their win-loss standing as they score a 103-88 victory over the Star Hotshots at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Wendell McKines had two turnovers to start the game that led to a 5-0 start for the Hotshots. The five-point lead was the largest lead by Star in the closely-contested first quarter of play. The first frame was a display of shooting exchange between the two teams, as the Elasto Painters did not lead the entire time but managed to tie the game a couple of times. The game slowed down in the last part of the quarter with free throws being shot by the two teams. Star scored seven of their last nine points from the 15-foot line and eventually ended the quarter with a slim lead.
With several second unit players fielded into the match for the Elasto Painters, they went on a 10-3 scoring run within the six-minute mark of the second quarter to have their first lead of the game. On the other hand, Star’s jump shots were not falling in that stretch while they were also having a hard time securing the rebounds. Fortunately for the Hotshots, Barroca and Pingris started to make noise in the middle of the quarter as they were able to keep on par with Rain or Shine’s offensive sets.
With three minutes to go in the first half, Rain or Shine extended their lead to eight, thanks to Jeff Chan and Ryan Araña’s timely baskets. The Painters managed to grab the lead at the half and were in front by five points against the Hotshots.
Several free throws kept the Painters afloat during the start of the second half while the Hotshots kept on hoisting up quick triples from their offense. Fortunately for Rain or Shine, the missed perimeter shots by Star enabled them to build their first double-digit lead, 62-52 at the 5:46 mark of the third. Star was able to slice the lead down to seven for several occasions but it would be the team’s last hurrah against Rain or Shine’s tremendous offense late in the game.
The Painters outscored their opponents 10-4 in the last moments of the third including two triples from Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood in the dying seconds. Despite Joe Devance scoring the opening basket of the payoff period, the Painters once again cruised to build a 20-point cushion at 92-72 that served to be the dagger to shatter the comeback hopes of Star.
Marc Pingris led his crew to a mini late surge by the Hotshots as they were able to slice the lead down to 11 again, but with a little over two minutes to go, the run came in too late to overhaul the deficit. Meanwhile, Paul Lee and McKines shot the game’s finishing touches en route for their team’s fourth straight victory of the Governor’s Cup.
McKines tallied 28 points, 14 rebounds for his team. Chan added 16 points and four assists while Paul Lee chipped in 13. Pingris topscored for Star with 25 on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting from the field.
Star Hotshots is now tied with Brgy Ginebra with a 3-5 record while Rain or Shine improves to a 5-4 record.
Star will next face the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters on Tuesday, June 16 7pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Rain or Shine’s next assignment will be against Kia the next day, still at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine (103) – McKines 28, Chan 16, Lee 13, Cruz 10, Araña 9, Almazan 8, Uyloan 6, Norwood 6, Ibañes 5, Cruz 0
Star (88) – Pingris 25, Devance 15, Blakely 13, Barroca 12, Mallari 9, Yap 6, Melton 4, Reavis 3, Simon 1, Taha 0, Malliksi 0, Pennisi 0
Quarters: 22-25, 49-44, 76-63, 103-88
