Rain or Shine bucked the worrying exit of Keith Datu with a strong fourth-quarter showing to top the free-falling Phoenix, 91-80, for its fourth straight win in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters lost the third-year big man due to an apparent knee injury with less than eight minutes to go in the third canto, but the remaining ones stepped up to the plate as a collective to take the solo lead once more at 5-1.
(C) PBA Images
Adrian Nocum hit tough back-to-back shots, Anton Asistio heated up from deep, and Jhonard Clarito delivered an and-one play as the troika strung together the crucial 13-0 run toward an 80-71 lead with 5:55 to go to take control.
Santi Santillan and Gian Mamuyac then came through in the closing moments, helping push their lead to 89-78 with 55.7 seconds left to seal the deal.
“Kulang talaga kami sa bigs, manpower namin. We’re struggling. But, we’re still here. We’re finding ways to win,” said head coach Yeng Guiao. “But I’d rather win ‘yung medyo maluwag-luwag, hindi ‘yung masyadong nahihirapan.”
Mamuyac top-scored for Rain or Shine with 22 points, while Asistio delivered 20 points as the duo also combined for six rebounds and six assists.
Jhonard Clarito supplied 11 points, while Nocum added 10 markers to lead the bench mob in the character victory, which the Elasto Painters managed to pull off despite losing big on the rebounds, 50-69, against their bigger foes.
“We really had problems with rebounding. They are a much bigger team than we are, plus nawala pa si Keith,” Guiao said. “Kulang talaga kami sa bigs, sa manpower. We’re struggling. But, we’re still here. We’re finding ways to win.”
(C) PBA Images
Rain or Shine will look to push its winning streak to five when it battles NLEX this Saturday, November 8, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Jason Perkins, meanwhile, had 17 points and seven rebounds while Sean Manganti added 13 for Phoenix, which fell to its fourth loss in a row.
Now at 1-5 in the standings, the Fuel Masters hope to end their skid against Terrafirma next Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 91 – Mamuyac 22, Asistio 20, Clarito 11, Nocum 10, Datu 9, Malonzo 6, Santillan 4, Norwood 2, Belga 2, Porter 2, Lemetti 1, Caracut 0, Ildefonso 0.
Phoenix 80 – Perkins 17, Manganti 13, Santos 9, Ballungay 9, Tio 8, Rivero 7, Garcia 6, Tuffin 6, Kwekuteye 3, Daves 2, Nelle 0, Caperal 0.
Quarterscores: 21-15, 36-37, 63-63, 91-80.
