ANTIPOLO – A third-quarter explosion propelled Rain or Shine to a 113-104 win over Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA On Tour, Friday night at the Ynares Center here.
The Elasto Painters fired 41 points in the said period for a 91-78 lead entering the game’s final 12 minutes, before Rey Nambatac and Beau Belga applied the finishing blows as they earned their second win of the preseason tourney.
“We had a good second half,” said head coach Yeng Guiao. “All we wanted to do is get as much experience for the guys, play them as evenly as possible.”
All but one scored at least four points in the triumph, with Nick Demusis and Andrei Caracut providing the spark for RoS with 15 points apiece.
Nambatac finished with 14 points off the bench. Santi Santillan came through with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Anton Asistio added 11.
Tested were the Elasto Painters especially in the final minutes, when the Fuel Masters came back from an 88-105 deficit and got to within just five, 108-103, following Raul Soyud’s free throws with 3:08 remaining.
But Belga was there to halt the surge not long after, driving past the defense of Soyud for an unmolested layup to make it a seven-point spread.
Their lead would later extend back to a decade, 113-103, behind Nambatac’s corner triple with 1:48 left, and their foes never recovered since.
Soyud led Phoenix with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Larry Muyang had 20 markers and 12 boards as they made it tough for Rain or Shine.
JJay Alejandro made 14 points while Chris Lalata flirted with a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds in the loss, their first after starting the On Tour with a pair of wins against San Miguel Beer and Phoenix.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 113 – Demusis 15, Caracut 15, Nambatac 14, Santillan 13, Asistio 11, Ildefonso 9, Borboran 8, Belga 8, Mamuyac 7, Ponferrada 7, Clarito 4, Norwood 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 104 – Soyud 24, Muyang 20, Alejandro 14, Lalata 13, Jazul 9, Celda 7, Atienza 7, Tio 6, Garcia 4, Rangel 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 50-54, 91-78, 113-104.
