Rain or Shine kept Converge listless, 110-88, for back-to-back wins in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters got their rhythm late in the third quarter and then broke the game wide open in the ensuing chapter to put together a winning streak after starting the season-ending conference with four successive defeats.
Beau Belga starred in the blowout with a rare triple-double as the veteran big man finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
“Ganun talaga ‘pag tumatanda ka, tumatalino ka,” quipped RoS head coach Yeng Guiao about his long-time bruiser. “I think he’s rounded out his game pretty well. May opensa siya, meron siyang rebound.
“Ang laking bagay kasi nung pagkawala ni Keith, so talagang kailangan niya mag-double time. He’s been doing that for the team,” he added.
Santi Santillan came through with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Andrei Caracut delivered his own double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 assists.
Shaun Ildefonso had a career-high as well with 15 points while Gian Mamuyac chipped in 10 markers for Rain or Shine, who rocked throwback jerseys paying homage to the uniforms worn by the 2006-07 Welcoat Dragons team.
“Sa amin, gusto namin manalo wearing this jersey,” said Belga, who’s been with the team since 2011. “Talagang pinilit namin tonight to get the win.”
Rain or Shine (2-4) will try to stretch its win streak to three against the skidding Blackwater (3-2) on Saturday, April 6, 3 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Justin Arana, on the other hand, finished with 20 points and nine rebounds for the FiberXers, which absorbed their sixth loss in as many outings.
Deschon Winston had 14 points, Alec Stockton made 13 points while Bryan Santos added 12 points and nine rebounds for Converge.
Converge will try to get its first win of the conference against Phoenix on April 12, Friday, 4:30 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 110 – Belga 25, Santillan 23, Caracut 15, Ildefonso 15, Mamuyac 10, Demusis 6, Borboran 4, Clarito 4, Concepcion 3, Asistio 3, Norwood 2, Belga 0, Paredes 0.
Converge 90 – Arana 20, Winston 14, Stockton 13, Santos 12, Delos Santos 7, Caralipio 7, Melecio 7, Zaldivar 3, Balanza 3, Nieto 1, Ambohot 0, Maagdenberg 0, Fleming 0, Fornilos 0.
Quarterscores: 24-24, 52-47, 75-63, 110-90.
