The dark clouds above Rain or Shine have finally dissipated.
After four straight losses to start the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup, the Elasto Painters have finally broken through the win column, as they stunned the league-leading Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 107-94, Saturday in Lucena, Quezon.
The Elasto Painters have improved to 1-4 by ending the Gin Kings’ four-game winning streak. Ginebra are now 7-2.
Import Terrence Watson had his best game for RoS since replacing J’Nathan Bullock, as he led the Elasto Painters with 29 points, 19 rebounds, and six blocks. Jewel Ponferrada led the locals with 18 points and five boards.
Rain or Shine had actually pulled away in the third quarter by converting their slim four-point lead to a wide 18-point gap, 75-57, with 4:23 on the clock, as Maverick Ahanmisi scored a basket off a foul to cap off a 14-0 scoring blitz.
Comeback experts that they are, the Barangay gave the Elasto Painters a major scare in the final frame. Down 15 with 5:45 left, Justin Brownlee headed a 15-4 rally to slice the deficit to just four, 101-97, with 2:50 remaining.
But the crowd darlings could not get any closer, as Gabe Norwood responded with a pull-up three-pointer from the left wing to inflate the Elasto Painters’ cushion to seven points, 104-97, with 2:25 left in the game.
Ahanmisi had 12 points, five assists, and three rebounds, while Norwood added 11 in the victory.
Though he struggled shooting from the field with an 11-of-25 performance, Brownlee led the Barangay with a near-triple-double of 23 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists. LA Tenorio provided 15 points and six boards.
Aljon Mariano continues to step up for Ginebra as he had 14 markers.
The loss spoiled the return of Art Dela Cruz, who sat out for about 18 months thanks to an Achilles injury. He played for six minutes and 35 seconds and tallied two points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
Rain or Shine will next face the winless Columbian Dyip on October 19, Friday, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, while Ginebra will battle rivals Magnolia Hotshots on October 28, Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 104 – Watson 29, Ponferada 18, Ahanmisi 12, Norwood 11, Belga 8, Daquioag 7, Tiu 6, Yap 6, Washington 4, Borboran 3, Onwubere 0.
Ginebra 97 – Brownlee 23, Tenorio 15, Mariano 14, Ferrer 13, Thompson 10, Aguilar 7, Caperal 6, Chan 5, Dela Cruz 2, Caguioa 2.
Quarterscores: 28-28, 51-44, 87-73, 104-97.
