Beau Belga continued his solid play as Rain or Shine sent Terrafirma skidding once more, 116-104, to sustain its fiery surge in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Saturday at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Nine days removed from his first career triple-double, the veteran big man finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.
And Belga’s performance helped the Elasto Painters’ strong finish for their fourth win in a row after an 0-4 start.
He scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter alone, including five in a 10-0 run he co-produced with Andrei Caracut.
Together, they turned a narrow three-point lead into a 102-89 advantage with 6:05 left to play. And that let Rain or Shine seize control of the game for good.
Eventually, they’d seal the 12-point win to replace the Dyip at solo fifth in the standings with a 4-4 record, going .500 for the first time this conference.
Terrafirma, on the other hand, dropped to 4-5 after absorbing its second loss in a row.
It will now need to sweep its next games against NorthPort and Magnolia, respectively, to book a spot in the quarterfinals.
Caracut was impactful as well in the victory with another double-double outing of 17 points and 10 assists, which he added with five rebounds.
Jhonard Clarito came through with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Santi Santillan had 15 points and nine rebounds. Mark Borboran supplied 13 points while Mac Belo provided a surprise spark off the bench with 11 points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
Gian Mamuyac added 10 markers.
Seven players finishing in twin digits was a result of RoS dishing out 40 assists – the most by a team since San Miguel had 46 in a 145-132 win over the Batang Pier in last season’s Governors’ Cup, per PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
Coach Yeng Guiao’s charges surely want to emulate that unselfishness when they take on, coincidentally, NorthPort on April 17 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Stephen Holt, meanwhile, had 20 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists to lead Terrafirma in the loss. Juami Tiongson had 20 as well.
Javi Gomez de Liano made 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaac Go had 13 points and nine rebounds for the quarters-seeking Dyip.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 116 – Belga 19, Caracut 17, Clarito 16, Santillan 15, Borboran 13, Belo 11, Mamuyac 10, Demusis 6, Ildefonso 6, Asistio 3, Nocum 0.
Terrafirma 104 – Holt 20, Tiongson 20, Gomez de Liano 18, Go 13, Cahilig 9, Camson 9, Calvo 4, Alolino 4, Ramos 3, Carino 3, Sangalang 1, Mina 0.
Quartercores: 34-32, 65-61, 92-82, 116-104.
